Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s longest-reigning monarch at 79, announced a major cabinet reshuffle on June 4, 2026, adding three new ministerial roles and appointing two of his younger sons to cabinet positions [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The reshuffle is Brunei’s first since 2022 and comes amid global energy pressures caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The Sultan remains prime minister, defence minister, and finance minister, reaffirming, "I will continue to hold the key roles of prime minister, defence minister and finance minister" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Prince Abdul Malik, the Sultan’s second eldest son and fourth in line to the throne, was named Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, marking his first cabinet post. Prince Abdul Mateen, the second youngest son and a British-trained military officer with over 3 million Instagram followers, was appointed foreign minister, taking over a role previously held by the Sultan. Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, the eldest son and heir, remains senior minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. The cabinet now includes four royal family members [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The reshuffle reorganized the Primary Resources and Tourism Ministry into the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, part of creating three new ministerial roles aimed at improving policy coordination. Sultan Hassanal said the changes are meant "to accelerate the development of priority sectors, strengthen economic diversification efforts, support sustainable economic growth and create meaningful employment opportunities" [1, 2, 3, 5].
The cabinet now has the highest number of female appointments so far, including the minister of education and three deputy ministers [1, 2, 3].
Brunei has gained from increased exports of crude oil, refined products, and gas amid the Iran war but faces rising subsidy costs to keep local fuel prices low. To combat fuel smuggling, the government banned foreign-registered vehicles from entering with fuel tanks less than three-quarters full in May 2026. On June 3, Brunei’s energy department created a special committee to monitor and coordinate efforts addressing the ongoing global energy crisis [1, 2, 3].
Prince Abdul Mateen, known for his polo skills and as a helicopter pilot, often joins the Sultan on official trips and married in January 2024 in Bandar Seri Begawan [4, 5]. Prince Abdul Malik holds an education degree from a local university [5].
The reshuffle reflects the Sultan’s approach to involving his sons in governance, stating, "In appointing my younger sons, I took into account their inclinations and early exposure in the government’s administrative system" [5].
