Brunei Darussalam

ASEAN Member Country since July 1984

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
Languages: Malay, English
Area (sq. km): 5,765
Population: 370,100 (2005)
GDP (USD): 12.6 billion (2006 estimate)

Brunei is a rainforest-covered gem of a country nestled on the northern shores of Borneo, combining a rich royal heritage and an exciting modernizing future. This prosperous oil and gas-producing nation with its small peaceful population has been ruled by an unbroken line of Sultans dating back 600 years. Under the benevolent rule of this dynasty, Brunei is one of the most politically stable nations in Asia.

Visitors to Brunei are immediately struck by the enduring symbols of a deep-rooted Islamic faith. The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital is a magnificent tribute to the country’s religious traditions. This deep faith combines with Brunei’s Malay cultural origins to produce a unique sense of identity, expressed in art forms like the Jong sarat sarongs woven with gold thread.

The island of Borneo is covered in lush rainforests, and Brunei is home to mangroves with diverse plant and animal life unique to the region. The superb Ulu Temburong National Park, a 500-sq-km expanse of primary rainforest, is home to gibbons, hornbills and the rare clouded leopard. In addition to this, nature lovers will enjoy the wide range of ecotourism attractions such as the white sands of Muara Beach.

History and modernity coexist harmoniously in Brunei, as the country combines its rich Malay Islamic heritage with a deep desire for modernity and progress. The government has taken great efforts to attract foreign investment, develop its human resources base and attract tourism, all of which are contributing to Brunei’s fast-paced modernization in the 21st century.