Brunei Darussalam Economy

This chapter contains a guide to the Sultanate’s best hotels and apartments, telephone numbers for ministries, embassies and other important institutions, and useful information for first-time visitors to the country.

One of the largest exporters of oil and gas in South-east Asia, Brunei Darussalam has long benefitted from its strong trade relationships with Japan, China and its ASEAN neighbours, building a robust trade surplus in the years to 2014 on the back of rising exports and elevated petroleum prices. The oil market’s mid-2014 turnaround has had a dramatic impact on the Sultanate’s trade balance,...

A high-income country with vast petroleum wealth, robust fiscal reserves and a small, highly- educated population, Brunei Darussalam is unique among the ASEAN community. Oil and gas resources have generated high per-capita income, although the economy has contracted in recent years as a result of falling oil and gas prices, which account for more than 90% of export revenues. Although...

While both 2015 and 2016 have held numerous important changes for Brunei Darussalam, the nation has long maintained its unique balance of tradition and modernity. Classified as a unitary Islamic monarchy, the Sultanate has maintained a stable form of government since its independence in 1984. Historically, the oil and gas industry has dominated the Bruneian economy and has allowed the...

Although the business environment for insurers is challenging, Brunei Darussalam’s small insurance industry continues to expand gradually. Increasingly high court awards to accident victims have affected the profitability of mandatory automotive and workers’ compensation lines, while the government’s local business development policies and support for sharia-compliant insurers are squeezing...