Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam is a place of tranquillity and stability, and it has maintained its peaceful and prosperous position due to the wise rule of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

There are two parallel systems of law operating in Brunei Darussalam: statutory laws, which regulate mercantile activities and disputes between persons, and sharia law. Statutory laws are generally referred to as the common law system and are based upon English codified laws. These courts are also known generally as Civil Courts and have...

As an economy that is dependent on its energy sector, the ongoing global crisis, which has seen oil prices drop significantly, has had a major impact on Brunei Darussalam’s economy. The Sultanate’s dependency on this sector has resulted in the government taking serious steps to look at economic diversification.

For year of assessment 2016, no changes have been made to tax or capital allowance rates. However, in a recent notice issued by the revenue division of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) dated April 19, 2016, effective from year of assessment 2016 onward, pursuant to Section 133B and 133C of the Companies Act, Chapter 39 (Amendment) (No.2) Order,...

Tourism operators in the Sultanate have experienced an eventful few years. A government reshuffle in late 2015 seemed aimed at increasing the focus on the tourism sector, lending hope to many private sector operators that the government would begin supporting growth and expansion of the industry in earnest.

As the world’s only Malay Islamic Monarchy, Brunei Darussalam is in a unique position to promote a sharia-compliant Islamic heritage tourism product attractive to observant Muslim families and others. Such a promotion would be a favourable strategy in the country’s efforts to expand its tourism sector and diversify the economy. Spending on...