Many Bruneians plan to line the streets on Sunday to watch the royal newlyweds take part in a procession.
“It’s like something from a movie,” said Nazatul Izzati Saifulrizal, 19.
EXTREME WEALTH
The pomp and pageantry of the royal extravaganza highlights the tiny country’s extreme wealth, which is almost entirely derived from its enormous oil reserves.
A sliver of land on the northern edge of Borneo island in Southeast Asia, Brunei was influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism before its rulers converted to Islam in the 14th century.
It fell under British rule in the 19th century and gained independence in 1984.
An absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws and a population of only about 450,000 people, Brunei is one of the world’s richest countries.
Its annual GDP per capita is nearly $36,000, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, analysts have warned that Brunei faces serious challenges to diversify its economy away from oil as crude prices remain volatile and its reserves dwindle.