Brunei Darussalam

City Information

Explore city history, fast facts, climate and practical visitor information for Brunei Darussalam.

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When to go

City Information

Fast Facts

-Dialling code: country 673: city 00 Note: within Brunei there are no area codes; Emergency numbers: Police: 993 Fire: 995 Ambulance: 991 Tourist Information Helpdesk: 238 2822 (this connects to Brunei’s government tourism authority: Brunei Tourism) Airport Enquiry: +673 2331706; -Population: 398,000: -Languages: Malay, English -Time zone: GMT +8 -Average January temperatures: 30°C -Average July temperatures: 32°C -Annual rainfall: the average is between 200-300mm of annual rainfall

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Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Brunei is the Brunei dollar (BND).

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Public Holidays

• Brunei National Day (23rd February) • Hari Raya Aidiladha (variable, February/March) • Muslim New Year – Hizrah (variable) • Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day (31st May) • Prophet’s Birthday (variable, in Malaysia and Brunei only) • Sultan of Brunei’s Birthday (15th July) • Hari Raya Aidilfitri (variable, September/October)

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Annual Temperature

Month Average Max Temp Average Min Temp January 30° 23° February 30° 22° March 31° 23° April 32° 23° May 32° 23° June 32° 23° July 32° 22° August 32° 22° September 31° 22° October 31° 22° November 31° 22° December 30° 22°

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Brunei Darussalam Residents

Brunei is considered to be the most observant Islamic country in the Southeast Asia region. The residents are very friendly and forward-thinking in their attitudes to globalisation and international trends. This does not extend to their laws on alcohol which is banned within the country, along with bringing in meat that is not halal. During Ramadan drinking, eating or smoking in front of other people who are fasting is considered to be extremely rude. Interestingly enough, criminal acts (petty theft and the like) are handled by‘English Court’ while a Muslim Court handles personal matters like divorce proceedings; the two courts never meet. Out of the population, 67% is of Malay and indigenous peoples while 15% are Chinese. The rest of the population demographic are Westerners, Indonesians, Indians and Bangladeshis.

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Brunei Darussalam Today

Despite its reputation as a rich country, Brunei has suffered a bit in recent years. The government has been forced to recognise a small but increasing unemployment rate and disaffected youths have been held responsible for the isolated incidents of crime, none more so than the sultan’s younger brother, Prince Jefri. Jefri’s extravagance in both his private life and, more seriously, as the country’s financial minister bred scandals and loud rumours of corruption, forcing the sultan to sack his brother in 1997. By that stage, Brunei’s reputation was damaged and its financial reserves severely depleted. Despite this, Brunei still continues to enjoy a high standard of living. The average life expectancy is 77 years and there are pensions for free medical care, schooling, sport and leisure, subsidies for purchases, short working weeks, and no income tax. With new economic diversification and deep-sea exploration for oil beginning to take off, Brunei aims to keep itself completely financially independent.

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Brunei Darussalam History

The earliest references to Brunei begin with its connections to the Chinese trading practices in the 6th century. Before the country was established as an Islamic state, Brunei was part of the Sumatran Srivijaya Empire (later becoming the Majapahit Empire of Java). However Brunei was not to establish itself as a power state until its ‘Golden Age’ of the 15th and 16th centuries under the rule of Sultan Bolkiah (the fifth sultan). The 16th century also saw the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese explorers but they failed to make a lasting connection to the country via force. A subtle approach by the British in the 19th century, in the form of Sarawak’s first raja James Brooke, saw the fall of Brunei with the sultan forced to accept the ‘treaties’ proposed by the raja who had taken hold of the town of Kuching. Brunei remained a British protectorate till 1888 until it was eventually split down the middle in 1890. By 1929, with the country on the cusp of being dissolved forever, oil was discovered making the country an economic power overnight. Sultan Omar Saifuddien (the present sultan’s father) kept the country out of the Malaysian confederacy, preferring the British protectorate and aimed to keep the oil on home soil. It is through him that Brunei can credit its economic development. By 1962, the British put pressure on the sultan to hold elections, the end result being the opposition Ra’ayat Party winning a full victory with its aim to keep Brunei independent and make the sultan a constitutional monarch within a democracy. When the sultan refused to allow this new government into power, an armed rebellion broke out with the support of the Indonesian Army. With the support of the British forces, this rebellion was crushed and an ‘Abode of Peace’ has existed under emergency laws ever since. When the sultan abdicated in 1967, his popular heir Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah reluctantly lead Brunei into complete independence from Britain in 1984. The country still retains close ties to the British. After independence, the country reverted into Islamic fundamentalism with Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) being brought forward as the new national ideology. This doctrine puts importance on Malay culture, Islam and the monarchy, and it promoted through the ministries of education, religious affairs, and information. MIB became compulsory in schools from 1994.

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