Not Miami or Dubai: The world’s largest mansion has 1,788 rooms and 257 bathrooms

Guinness World Records names Brunei’s Istana Nurul Iman the largest residential palace in the world. Covering 2.15 million square feet, it boasts 1,788 rooms and 257 bathrooms. Its name, which comes from Persian and Arabic, translates to “Palace of the Light of Faith.”

Built by Ayala Corporation in 1984, the same year Brunei gained independence from Britain, the palace cost around $1.4 billion. It sits along the Brunei River, just a few miles south of the nation’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Who lives at Istana Nurul Iman?

Istana Nurul Iman is the official residence of Brunei’s 29th sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, and also houses the country’s government offices. According to Forbes, in 2008 the sultan’s fortune was estimated at $20 billion, largely earned through oil and gas ventures.

Lavish features and opulent materials

The palace includes a banquet hall that can host 5,000 guests, a grand mosque, a garage for 110 vehicles, a climate-controlled stable for 200 polo horses, and five swimming pools.

Its interior is decorated with Italian marble, Shanghai granite, English glass, and Chinese silk. Gold and marble dominate the design, with 38 types of marble used throughout and 44 marble staircases in the palace.

Airport comparison

According to Lonely Planet, Istana Nurul Iman blends Malay architecture, like vaulted roofs, with Islamic elements, including arches and golden domes. The guide compares its scale and grandeur to a major airport terminal.

“The crystal tears in the royal reception hall, the sweeping wooden ceilings along covered corridors, and the glass ceiling of the grand banquet hall were crafted by Khuan Chew, the designer behind Dubai’s Burj Al Arab,” Lonely Planet notes.

Visiting the palace

Public access is extremely limited. The palace opens only three days a year during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, the final celebrations of Ramadan. For the rest of the year, the best way to glimpse the palace is via a cruise along the Brunei River.

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