Captain Sahibul Bahari bin Haji Zainal Abidin, RBN, assumed the appointment as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) on 10th January 2025. He began his military career on 6th November 1996, when he enlisted in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). Captain Sahibul was commissioned as an officer after successfully completing the Naval Officer Cadet Course at the Royal Britannia Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom, on 12th May 1998.
Following his training, he attended the International Sub-Lieutenant Course at HMS DRAKE in the United Kingdom. In the early years of his career, Captain Sahibul served as an Officer Under Training aboard KDB SETERIA. Over time, he has held several key command and staff appointments within the Royal Brunei Navy. From 2000 to 2006, Captain Sahibul served as the Executive Officer for KDB PEMBURU, KDB SETERIA, and KDB PEJUANG. In 2006, he was appointed Commanding Officer of KDB PEMBURU and KDB PERWIRA, serving until 2009.
From 2009 to 2011, Captain Sahibul served as Staff Officer Grade 2, Inspectorate RBN, and later became the Head of the Royal Brunei Navy Inspectorate Cell, a position he held from 2014 to 2016. Between 2011 and 2014, he served as Executive Officer for KDB DARULAMAN and KDB DARUSSALAM. In 2016, Captain Sahibul assumed the role of Commanding Officer for KDB DARUTTAQWA, serving until 2017. In 2017, he was appointed Fleet Chief of Staff, and in 2018, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Royal Brunei Navy.
On 22nd August 2019, after his tenure as Chief of Staff, Captain Sahibul was appointed as Aide-De-Camp to His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, a prestigious role which he held until 14th August 2022.
After concluding his Aide-De-Camp appointment, Captain Sahibul furthered his professional development by attending the National Defense College of the Philippines, where he earned a Master's degree in National Security Administration. Captain Sahibul returned to the Royal Brunei Navy in 2023 and resumed his role as Fleet Commander. On 10th August 2025, with the consent of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy.
Throughout his career, Captain Sahibul has pursued several career-enhancing courses, including the Command Staff Course at the Defense Academy of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Executive Development Program at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies.
Captain Sahibul is a qualified Specialist Communication Officer, Mine Hunting Officer, and Principal Warfare Officer. His operational experience includes commanding the Counter Piracy Task Group 151 (CTG151) in Somalia and contributing to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Tacloban following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
He has received numerous honors throughout his distinguished career, including the Long Service Medal in 2014 (PKL), the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Darjah keempat (P.S.B) in 2022, and the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Ketiga (S.M.B) in 2023.
Captain Sahibul is married to Haniwati binti Hj Bakar, and together they are blessed with two daughters and two sons.
