Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi
Abdul Qawi ibni Mohamed Bolkiah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Abdul Qawi ibni Mohamed Bolkiah January 27, 1974 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, diplomat |
| Known for | Member of Brunei royal family, business leadership, diplomatic missions |
Abdul Qawi ibni Mohamed Bolkiah (born 27 January 1974) is a prominent entrepreneur and a member of the Brunei royal lineage. He is the nephew of the reigning Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the brother-in-law of Sultan Muhammad V from Kelantan, Malaysia. Official state documents address him by his aristocratic title, Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi, which translates to "Prince" in Brunei.
Early life and education
Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi was born on 27 August 1974 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital. He is the eldest child of Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah. His foundational schooling took place at St. Andrew's School, Brunei, followed by secondary studies at Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, where he successfully completed the GCE Ordinary Level. He advanced to study for his GCE A Levels at St Andrew's College, Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics with business management from Queen Mary and Westfield College, part of the University of London. Additionally, he completed training at the Commando School of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Business career
Upon graduating in 1998, Abdul Qawi began his professional journey as a research officer within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Two years later, in 2000, he stepped down to dedicate himself fully to business pursuits. His corporate leadership experience includes serving as chairman of The Brunei Hotel, holding positions as deputy and executive chairman at QAF Brunei, and acting as a director at Baiduri Bank from 2000 until 2010.
From 2002 through 2012, he contributed as a member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. Since 2005, he has been actively engaged with the INSEAD East Asia Business Council and serves as patron for the Brunei–Britain Business Forum. His involvement extends to the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry since 2004, and in 2010, he became patron of the Young Entrepreneurs Association Brunei.
Since September 2014, Abdul Qawi has held the position of non-executive chairman at HS Optimus Holdings, with a reappointment in July 2022. He also chairs several other entities including National Insurance, QOS, Everon, and Supremo Management Services within Brunei. These leadership roles highlight his significant impact on both the commercial landscape and diplomatic engagements in Brunei.
Diplomatic career
Abdul Qawi has played an instrumental role in diplomatic and commercial missions during international delegations. In March 2002, he accompanied Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah on a working tour to China and Japan aimed at enhancing Brunei’s economic and trade partnerships. The delegation met with top Chinese officials such as Vice President Hu Jintao and President Jiang Zemin. In Japan, discussions with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi centered on promoting tourism collaboration.
In March 2005, Abdul Qawi joined Al-Muhtadee Billah on an official visit to Singapore that addressed defence cooperation, counterterrorism strategies, regional security issues, as well as developments at the MediaCorp Caldecott Broadcast Centre.
August 2010 saw him accompany Al-Muhtadee Billah to Kuwait for high-level meetings with key figures including the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Acting Prime Minister. These engagements involved official luncheons and receptions aimed at reinforcing bilateral relationships.
Continuing his diplomatic contributions in September 2011, Abdul Qawi joined Al-Muhtadee Billah at George Washington University, where they explored partnerships spanning foreign affairs, scientific research, sustainability initiatives, faculty collaboration, and student exchange programs to bolster Brunei’s educational ties.
In July 2013, his father Prince Mohamed Bolkiah engaged with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, underscoring Abdul Qawi’s involvement in foreign relations and reaffirming Japan’s endorsement of Brunei’s leadership during its ASEAN chairmanship.
Demonstrating business diplomacy in May 2016, Abdul Qawi led a delegation targeting investment opportunities in Vietnam’s Thanh Hóa province. Welcomed by State President Tran Dai Quang, his efforts successfully attracted investments from countries including Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Spain across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and industrial development.
In November 2022, he met with Zainal Fatah, secretary general of Indonesia’s public works ministry, to discuss Brunei’s role in constructing Nusantara—the new Indonesian capital. Their discussions emphasized government-business cooperation on infrastructure projects like water supply networks and toll road systems, highlighting Abdul Qawi’s sustained engagement in international business initiatives.
Personal interests
On 9 May 2006, Abdul Qawi paid a visit to the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) and took part in a friendly game alongside Lim Swee Say, who serves as SBA president and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. Subsequently, he partnered with Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah in a competitive match against Singapore national players Erwin and Kendrick Lee.
As captain of QAF FC, Abdul Qawi demonstrated strong leadership during the final of the 2007–08 Brunei Premier League on 24 January 2007. Although his team initially led through goals by Christopher Ambun and Viban Francis Bayong, QAF FC was ultimately defeated 3-2 by MS ABDB in extra time. Throughout the match, he sustained team spirit despite the loss.
At the polo event of the 2017 SEA Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Brunei's squad included four notable players: Prince Abdul Mateen, Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah, Pengiran Muda Bahar, and Abdul Qawi, reflecting his participation in prominent sporting occasions.
Marriage
Abdul Qawi wed Tengku Amalin A'ishah Putri, daughter of Sultan Ismail Petra, on 24 June 2013. The wedding ceremony took place in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, with family members from both sides present. The formal Majlis Akad Nikah was conducted on 27 June 2013, featuring official exchanges between royal delegates that highlighted customary traditions.
A key event was the Majlis Istiadat Pertunangan, where representatives from both royal families formally sought approval for the marriage, underscoring the significance of this union.
Following the wedding, celebrations included the Majlis Istiadat Doa Kesyukuran on 7 July 2013 at Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan, which showcased cultural performances and a banquet attended by royalty, dignitaries, and diplomats. The next day’s Majlis Kesyukuran and Doa Selamat comprised ritual ceremonies and prayers with esteemed guests present, marking the importance of this alliance for both royal households.
Issue
The couple has four children: their eldest daughter, Pengiran Anak Tengku Afeefah Musyafaah Bolkiah Putri, born on 13 April 2014; second daughter, Pengiran Anak Tengku Azzahra Iffatul Bolkiah Putri, born on 24 June 2016; third daughter, Pengiran Anak Tengku Zaafirah Muizzah Bolkiah Putri, born on 12 February 2020; and their first son, Pengiran Anak Tengku Abdul Muhaimin Bolkiah Petra, born on 26 June 2022.
| Name | Born | Place of Birth | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Afeefah Musyafaah Bolkiah Putri | Template:Birth date | Singapore | Template:Age in years, months and days |
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Azzahra Iffatul Bolkiah Putri | Template:Birth date | Singapore | Template:Age in years, months and days |
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Zaafirah Muizzah Bolkiah Putri | Template:Birth date | Kelantan, Malaysia | Template:Age in years, months and days |
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Abdul Muhaimin Bolkiah Petra | Template:Birth date | Brunei | Template:Age in years, months and days |
Titles and styles
In 2022, during the 53rd birthday celebration of Sultan Muhammad V held in Kota Bharu, Abdul Qawi was honored with the distinguished title of Tengku Sri Utama Raja. Additionally, he received the Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Kelantan Yang Amat Mulia (SPMK), which conferred upon him the honorific prefix Dato.
Honours
The following awards have been conferred:
National
- Proclamation of Independence Medal (1 January 1984)
- Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
- Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
- National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
- Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 2 June 2022)
Foreign
- :
- Tengku Sri Utama Raja (2022)
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato' (24 October 2022)
References
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- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1974 births
- Living people
- Bruneian Muslims
- Bruneian royalty
- Bruneian men's footballers
- Bruneian polo players
- QAF FC players
- SEA Games medalists in polo
- Competitors at the 2017 SEA Games
- Alumni of Queen Mary University of London
- Men's association football players not categorized by position
- Competitors at the 2019 SEA Games
- SEA Games bronze medalists for Brunei
- SEA Games gold medalists for Brunei
- SEA Games competitors for Brunei