Brunei Information
Located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, Brunei is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, apart from an area of coastline bordering the South China Sea.
Time: GMT +8.
Electricity: 220/240V, 50Hz; square and round three-pin plugs.
Language: the official language is Malay; however, a significant minority speak a variety of Chinese languages including Min Nan, Mandarin, Min Dong and Yue. English is also widely spoken and there is a large number of expats residing in Brunei.
Currency: Brunei uses the Brunei dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. Most commonly used banknotes are: B$100, 50, 10, 5 and 1, with B$10,000, 1,000, 500, 15 and 20 notes rarely used. Coins come in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Visas: most nationalities do not require a visa to enter Brunei, and will receive an entry pass at the immigration checkpoint. This stamp defines how long a citizen can stay in Brunei and depends on the citizen’s country of origin. Israelis are the only nationality exempt from being issued with a visa or stamp of any kind.
Airport: Brunei International Airport is the country’s primary air gateway and is located four kilometers northwest of the city.
Area: 5,765 sq km (2,226 sq miles).
Population: 388,190 (2009).
Population density: 66 per sq km.
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan. Population: 46,229.
Health: Brunei is unaffected by malaria and other tropical diseases, and also boasts one of the best health-care systems in Asia. It is recommended that all visitors are vaccinated against typhoid, hepatitis A and tetanus. Tap water is unsafe, but bottled water is readily available. Milk in Brunei is unpasteurized, and should be avoided.
Safety: Brunei is one of the safest countries in the world, in terms of social and political conflict. The stability of the government combined with the country’s economic prosperity means Brunei maintains a very low rate of crime. Despite Brunei’s prominent Islamic faith, the country has no known Islamic fundamentalist organizations.
Tipping: the majority of hotels add a 10 percent service charge to the bill; further tipping is not necessary.
Communications: +673 is the international dialing code for Brunei. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code. There are fixed landlines as well as satellite stations providing worldwide IDD, fax and telex links. Brunei has roaming agreements with several international network providers, so some visitors may be able to use their own mobile phones. Public telephones are available at post offices and shopping centers.
Customs: dress conservatively when traveling in Brunei. Showing the soles of your feet is considered rude and items should be passed with your right hand. If you need to point, do so using your thumb, keeping your fingers closed. Shoes should be removed before entering the mosque and women should cover their head.
Religion: Brunei’s national religion is the Shafeite sect of Islam and makes up 66 percent of the population. The remaining percentage is made up of other Muslim sects and Buddhists.
Weather: Brunei has a typical equatorial climate, with soaring temperatures and a high annual rainfall. A northeast monsoon hits the country from December to March, while a southeast monsoon spans from June until October. Between April and May, and November until early December, are the driest periods and the most popular times to visit.
Recent history: in 2004, the sultanate appointed a 21-member legislative council in an effort to keep up with changing times. However, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah still remains the most authoritative figure and is the supreme ruler of Brunei. His announcement that his son will succeed him as sultan illustrates his determination to maintain the nation’s leading role. The media is extremely pro-government and criticism of either the government or monarchy is rare.
Despite its meager size, Brunei has one of the highest standards of living in the world due to its wealth of oil and gas.
