Participant Information

Notice: VIP Arrival Protocols

Upon their arrival, VIP guests will be greeted at the aerobridge by representatives from Royal Brunei Airlines, the BDCB management team, and an appointed liaison officer. Please identify the liaison officer by the sign bearing the IFSB logo alongside the VIP’s name.

Subsequent to the reception, VIP guests will be directed to a lounge with complimentary coffee and tea while the airport personnel handle all immigration formalities and luggage collection. Once these arrangements are complete, VIPs will be accompanied by the liaison officer to their pre-arranged transportation, which will convey them to The Empire Brunei.

Guests who have chosen alternative accommodations are kindly asked to make their own hotel arrangements.

Notice: Participant Arrival

Registered participants staying at The Empire Brunei, please proceed to the arrival hall upon your arrival. Look for drivers holding signs with the IFSB Summit logo. After clearing immigration and customs, exit through the arrival hall and follow the drivers to your designated vehicles.

Guests who have chosen alternative accommodations are kindly asked to make their own hotel arrangements.

Information on Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam boasts a colourful exhibition of fascinating customs and rich nature, with a contemplative respect for religion as well as reverence for its ancient sovereignty, and we’d like to invite you to experience it all, right in the heart of our home!

Since gaining independence from the British in 1984, Brunei has continued to strive forward, becoming a member of a number of regional and international organisations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Commonwealth and the United Nations. Also, thanks to the extensive oilfields which were first discovered in 1929, the people enjoy plenty of benefits, such as free healthcare, a well-established state education system and even a housing scheme dedicated to providing citizens with affordable homes. There are plethoras of hotels in the capital, as well as numerous options for shopping and leisure. Sports activities are also a common past time in Brunei, so there’s little difficulty in finding one to participate in. Despite the urban sophistication, there’s really nothing like walking through an air-conditioned mall looking for a place to eat lunch, and then trekking through the depths of the rainforest less than a couple of hours later!

Capital
Bandar Seri Begawan

Geography
It is strategically located on the north-west coast of the island of Borneo. Brunei Darussalam is approximately two to three hours flying distance from most ASEAN countries.

Land area
Brunei Darussalam has a total land area of 5,765 square kilometres with over 161 kilometres of coastline along the South China Sea. The western part of Brunei Darussalam consists of Brunei Muara, Tutong and Belait districts, while the eastern part is the Temburong District.

Population
Brunei Darussalam’s population was 393,372 (2011).

People
Brunei Darussalam has seven ethnics comprising of Malay, Kedayan, Belait, Tutong, Bisaya, Murut, Dusun. Majority of the population are Malays with an estimated 258,465 people (2011); followed by Chinese with 40,534 people; and 94,373 people comprising of other minor groups.

Language
Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) is the official language but English is also widely spoken. Various Chinese and Indian dialects are used by the respective communities.

Religion
The official religion is Islam. However, other religions may be practised in peace and harmony by the persons professing them as stated in the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam.

Government
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is the Head of State and Head of Government of Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty who is the 29th Sultan of Brunei is the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. His Majesty is assisted by five constitutional bodies namely the Council of Succession, the Council of Ministers, the Privy Council, the Religious Council and the Legislative Council.

Brunei Darussalam was a British protectorate state from 1888 to 1983 and achieved its full sovereignty on January 1, 1984. Brunei Darussalam is governed on the basis of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam established in 1959.

Brunei Darussalam is a member of several regional and international organisations such as Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), The United Nations (UN), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), The Commonwealth, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and so on.

Economy
Brunei Darussalam has a small but wealthy economy comprising of a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurships. It is largely supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for nearly over half of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Currency
The monetary unit of the country is Brunei Dollar and written as BND. It is pegged to the value of the Singapore Dollar and both currencies can be used in Brunei Darussalam and Republic of Singapore.

Climate
Brunei Darussalam has a tropical equatorial climate with high rainfall and warm temperatures all year round.

Time zone
Brunei Darussalam is eight hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8).

Visiting Brunei

By Air
The easiest way to reach Brunei would be through our flag carrier and national airline – Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) – which is serving 22 destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia since December 2018. New flights are being added to Haikou, Taipei, Changsha and Tokyo. RB uses B787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320neo aircraft for these services. Its hub, Brunei International Airport, is also only a 15-minute drive away from the nation’s capital. So don’t worry about those long drives to and from the airport. You’ll have plenty of time. A number of other airlines also fly through the international airport. AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines serves Brunei from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), with Singapore Airlines from Singapore, Cebu Pacific from Manila (Philippines), and Lucky Air from Kunming (China).

By Land
Not from somewhere far, far away? Thinking of a road trip to Brunei? Well, you’re in luck. There are four ports of entry around Brunei that you can travel through by land. The first and most accessible one is located on the southwestern end of the country in Belait District. Known as Sungai Tujoh Control Post, it lies closest to the Sarawak city of Miri – one of our most visited neighbours. Another one is the Kuala Lurah Control Post, located in the Brunei-Muara District, less than an hour away from the border town of Limbang in northern Sarawak – another popular neighbouring destination. And if you’re coming from the east, travellers from the state of Sabah can also reach Brunei through the ports of entry in the Temburong District: the Labu and Ujong Jalan Control Posts.

By Sea
Brunei also has a ferry terminal – the Serasa Passengers and Vehicle Ferry Terminal – which frequently sees visitors from Labuan, a federal territory of East Malaysia, located off the coast of Sabah.

Tourist Information Centres

Brunei International Airport
The first tourist information centre can be found right in the Brunei International Airport’s arrival hall. This gives everyone the convenience of obtaining current information upon arrival to Brunei Darussalam.

Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 9:00AM to 4:30PM
( During Ramadhan: 9:00AM to 2:00PM )

Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery
The second tourist information centre is located at the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, making it a great starting point for you to explore Kampong Ayer. Please note that the centre is closed on public holidays.

Exhibition Gallery
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00AM to 4:30PM
( During Ramadhan: Saturday – Thursday: 9:00AM to 2:00PM, Friday: 9:00am – 11:00am )

Tourist Information Centres:
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 9:00AM to 4:30PM
( During Ramadhan: 9:00AM to 2:00PM )

Visa Application:
All foreign nationals entering Brunei Darussalam must have visas obtainable from any Brunei Darussalam diplomatic missions abroad except the following countries with which Brunei Darussalam has visa arrangements.

Click here to view countries which have Visa arrangements with Brunei Darussalam.

Travellers’ Essentials

General Travel
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our beautiful country. Brunei is now open to all travellers without quarantine or testing requirements, regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Before your arrival to Brunei, submit the E Arrival Card via the official and free e-service on https://www.imm.gov.bn

E Arrival Card
Travel Visa
Bank
Currency
TELCO
Weather
Operating Hours
Customs and Culture
Safety
Emergency
Medical
Embassies and Important Contacts
Immigration Information

For more info, visit www.bruneitourism.com