Good Class Bungalows are a dime a dozen along Nassim Road, one of the most prestigious addresses in Singapore. And then there are colossal estates that make those GCBs look like shoebox flats in comparison. Case in point: Arwaa Mansion, the palatial home of the infamous Bruneian playboy, Prince Jefri Bolkiah.
You might have seen the exterior of this opulent property in the background of your friend’s wedding photos, or even on your TikTok For You Page of urban explorers showing you the way to get there. In either case, it doesn’t change the fact that the Arwaa Mansion is reportedly worth a staggering $120 million dollars at the very least.
What is Arwaa Mansion?
Image credit: @silantra16
Arwaa Mansion is one of those ultra-exclusive homes with a legacy that has spanned decades. The site itself is sprawled across a land area of over 110,000sqft, and was the result of the merger of 2 properties on 46B and 48 Nassim Road way back when. That’s the size of at least 90 5-room HDB flats!
The rest of its origin story, however, is a little more vague and lost to history. But one thing is for sure: It’s owned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei.
How Arwaa Mansion compares to other GCBs
Image credit: @keltan.xxviii
We’re all aware of how much Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) cost. But then again, Arwaa Mansion is no ordinary GCB. Around 2008, the property was valued at around $120 million, which means after inflation and all those shenanigans, it’s now worth around $150 million.
That’s not a far-fetched number, seeing as 3 GCBs on Nassim Road were sold for a total of $206 million just in 2023. Alas, this is just an estimate of how much it’ll be if the mansion ever goes up on the market.
A minor controversy surrounding Arwaa Mansion
Image credit: Google Maps
When a home in Singapore makes the headlines, it’s usually because it was sold for a record-breaking price or awarded for its design. Arwaa Mansion got all the reporters talking back in 2008, not for those reasons, but because Prince Jefri’s assets were being contested in court by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA).
The BIA alleged that billions of dollars went missing during Prince Jefri’s stint as the Bruneian finance minister in the 1980s and 1990s, and had ordered him to return many of his assets, Arwaa Mansion included, to the Brunei government.
Whether or not Arwaa Mansion was eventually surrendered back to the Brunei government remains uncertain.
How to get to Arwaa Mansion
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While the mansion itself is off-limits to visitors, you can still catch a glimpse of this palatial estate from the outside. For those who want to see its front facade, head to Nassim Road. If you’re looking to do a photoshoot in the green fields behind Arwaa Mansion, go to Dalvey Road. Here are some more travel details on how to get there:
Getting to Arwaa Mansion on Nassim Road
By Car: Arwaa Mansion is located at 46B and 48 Nassim Road, which is closer to the Cluny Road entrance. You could also enter Nassim Road via Tanglin Road.
By MRT: The nearest MRT station is Napier on the Thomson-East Coast Line, and then you’ll still have to take a brisk 20-minute walk along Cluny Road.
By Bus: Several bus services like 7, 77, 105, 132, and 174 run along Napier Road and Tanglin Road and Orchard Boulevard. You’d still need to take a walk a fair bit from the closest bus stop.
Getting to Arwaa Mansion’s backyard on Dalvey Road
By Car: Dalvey Road is easily accessible via Evans Road or Stevens Road, and you’d want to input 55 Dalvey Road on your GPS or ride-sharing app.
By MRT: The nearest MRT station is Stevens MRT Station on the Downtown Line and Thomson-East Coast Line.
By Bus: You could take a bus to Napier Road and stop at the corner of the Botanic Gardens, or head to the Opp Met YMCA bus stop along Stevens Road and walk into Dalvey Road.
Arwaa Mansion in Singapore
Image credit: @kai_singaporeancorgi
Today, Arwaa Mansion still stands as an icon of extravagant wealth with a side of intrigue. Despite the uncertainty of its legal status and ownership, it remains a testament to the allure of Nassim Road and the rich history that comes with Singapore’s most coveted addresses. But for now, its gates remain closed to kaypoh onlookers and its stories are locked away behind gilded doors.
One thing is for certain: if walls could talk, these ones would have tales that would make even the most extravagant of GCBs blush.
Explore other Singaporean mansions:
- Tommie Goh’s Ridley Park GCB is dubbed the “Ferrari House”
- Inside HaiDiLao co-founder’s award-winning Gallop Park GCB
- This GCB near Botanic Gardens looks like a mini National Gallery
Cover image credit: @silantra16, @keltan.xxviii
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