Prince Bahar is a member of Brunei’s royal family, the second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, and a competitive polo player who has represented Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games. His 2023 marriage to Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, a daughter of the reigning Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, made him one of the more publicly documented figures in the extended royal family in recent years, connecting his branch of the House of Bolkiah more closely to the ruling line through marriage.
| Full Name | Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah |
| Regnal Name | Pengiran Muda Bahar ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Digadong Sahibul Mal Pengiran Muda Haji Jefri Bolkiah |
| Date of Birth | August 20, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Brunei |
| Nationality | Bruneian |
| Profession | Member of Brunei’s royal family; competitive polo player |
| Family | Second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and Pengiran Norhayati; nephew of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Siblings | Includes Prince Abdul Hakeem, Princess Hamidah Jamalul, and Faiq Bolkiah |
| Spouse | Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah (m. 2023), daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Sport | Polo, representing Brunei |
| Notable For | SEA Games polo medals; marriage into the reigning Sultan’s immediate family |
Quick answer: Prince Bahar is the second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, born in 1981, who has built a competitive polo career representing Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games and married Princess Azemah, a daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, in 2023.
Early Life
Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah was born on August 20, 1981, in Brunei, the second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and his first wife, Pengiran Anak Isteri Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman. He is the younger brother of Prince Abdul Hakeem and the elder brother of Princess Hamidah Jamalul Bulqiah, with several younger half-siblings from his father’s later marriages, including footballer Faiq Bolkiah. Historical press photography places him at polo events in Berkshire, England, as early as 1999, consistent with the Bolkiah family’s long-documented involvement in the sport dating back to the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club, established at Jerudong in 1966. Detailed, independently verified records of his formal schooling are not publicly available.
Early Career
Like his brother Abdul Hakeem, Bahar was reportedly appointed a director connected to the family’s New York Palace hotel interests before relocating to Brunei, part of Prince Jefri’s broader portfolio of international investments during the 1990s. Detailed, independently verified specifics of this role are not widely published.
Polo Career
Bahar has built a genuine competitive sporting record in polo, representing Brunei at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games over multiple editions:
- Bronze medal, men’s tournament, 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games
- Bronze medal, men’s tournament, 2019 Calatagan SEA Games
- Silver medal, mixed 2–4 goals category, 2025 Bangkok SEA Games
- Bronze medal, mixed 4–6 goals category, 2025 Bangkok SEA Games
His wife, Princess Azemah, has an equally documented polo record, having medaled in the same 2017, 2019, and 2025 SEA Games polo events representing Brunei, making the couple a rare husband-and-wife pairing of active regional-level competitors within the royal family.
Marriage to Princess Azemah
Prince Bahar married Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, a daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, in 2023. The marriage connected Bahar’s branch of the family — descended from Prince Jefri — directly into the reigning Sultan’s immediate household through marriage, a link celebrated with official Diraja ceremonies at Istana Nurul Iman documented in royal event photography. Detailed public reporting on the couple’s wedding festivities, comparable in scale to other recent Bruneian royal weddings such as that of Prince Abdul Mateen, is more limited than coverage of weddings involving the Sultan’s direct children, and this article notes that gap rather than filling it with unverified detail.
Personal Life
Beyond his polo career and marriage, Bahar has maintained a relatively private public profile. Detailed, independently verified information about children, residence, or other personal matters beyond his documented marriage is not widely published as of this writing.
Line of Succession
As the second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, Bahar holds a position in Brunei’s extended line of succession to the throne, positioned near his brothers Abdul Hakeem and Faiq and his nephew Abdul Halim Ar-Rahman, well behind the direct line through Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and his children.
Legacy
Prince Bahar’s public standing rests on two distinct pillars: a genuine, multi-decade competitive polo career carried out at a regional level rather than as ceremonial participation, and a 2023 marriage that tied his branch of the Bolkiah family more closely to the reigning Sultan’s own household. Together, these give him a more visibly active public role within the extended royal family than several of his siblings and cousins from the Jefri Bolkiah branch of the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Prince Bahar’s parents?
He is the second son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and Pengiran Norhayati.
Who is Prince Bahar married to?
Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, a daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, whom he married in 2023.
What sport does Prince Bahar compete in?
Polo. He has won SEA Games medals representing Brunei in 2017, 2019, and 2025.
Is Prince Bahar related to footballer Faiq Bolkiah?
Yes, Faiq Bolkiah is his younger half-brother, also a son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah.
Is Prince Bahar related to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah?
He is the Sultan’s nephew by birth and, since 2023, also the Sultan’s son-in-law through marriage to Princess Azemah.
Sources: This biography draws on Wikipedia’s sourced profile of Pengiran Muda Bahar, the related entry for Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Wikipedia’s Prince Jefri Bolkiah page, and Wikimedia Commons event photography for the couple’s Diraja ceremony. Details not corroborated by these records are labeled as not publicly confirmed rather than presented as fact.
