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Currently reported don'ts for 'Brunei': 25

Brunei

Brunei
  • Capital

    Capital

    Bandar Seri Begawan

  • Local time

    Local time

    7:49

  • Population

    Population

    422 678

  • Driving side

    Driving side

    Left

  • Calling code

    Calling code

    +673

  • Currency

    Currency

    $ BND (dollar)

Read more facts about Brunei
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Brunei

Brunei
Socket
  • Capital

    Capital

    Bandar Seri Begawan

  • Local time

    Local time

    7:49

  • Population

    Population

    422 678

  • Driving side

    Driving side

    Left

  • Calling code

    Calling code

    +673

  • Currency

    Currency

    $ BND (dollar)

  • Average Salary

    Average Salary

    $ 2 228

  • Petrol price

    Petrol price

    € 0.41 pl

  • Precipitation

    Precipitation

    2 722mm /year

Geography & travel

  • Country Area

    Country Area

    5 770 km2

  • Protected Area

    Protected Area

    44%

  • Forest Area

    Forest Area

    72%

  • Agricultural area

    Agricultural area

    2%

  • Annual air passengers

    Annual air passengers

    1.17 m

Population

  • Ethnicity

    Ethnicity

    Malay - 67 %
    Chinese - 15 %
    indigenous - 6 %

  • Religion

    Religion

    Islam - 67 %
    Islam - 67 %
    Buddhist - 13 %

  • Literacy rates

    Literacy rates

    96.1%

  • Languages

    Languages

    Malay
    English
    Chinese

  • Armed Forces

    Armed Forces

    9 250

  • Alcohol consumption

    Alcohol consumption

    0.8 l/person

  • Smoking

    Smoking

    29.3%

  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    13.7%

  • Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis

    58 per 100k

Economy

  • Industries

    Industries

    petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, transportation

  • Agriculture

    Agriculture

    rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resources

    petroleum, natural gas, timber

  • Energy Import

    Energy Import

    -357%

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resources

    petroleum, natural gas, timber

  • Renewable Energy

    Renewable Energy

    0%

  • CO2 Emissions

    CO2 Emissions

    9 109kt

  • Ease of Business

    Ease of Business

    56 (Best=1, Worst=200)

  • ATMs per 100k people

    ATMs per 100k people

    77

Back to results

What not to do when visiting Brunei

1/25
Marker Brunei
Street & Behavioral

Don‘t forget Brunei has implemented an Islamic Sharia penal code - the offences and punishments apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims (unless explicitly stated otherwise).

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2/25
Marker Brunei
Street & Behavioral

Don't consume any food or drink in public during the Ramadan.

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3/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't forget to do small bow when greeting with an older person to show respect - it's considered rude to stare into another person's eyes, mainly who is senior to you. Handshakes are only between the same sexes, placing hand to your heart after the handshake is common.

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Did you know

Did you know?

Brunei is home to the world’s largest residential palace. The Sultan of Brunei has 1500 rooms and 257 bathrooms in his palace, a wife, who is also his cousin, and has been sung to by Michael Jackson for 17 million dollars.

4/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Street & Behavioral

Don't lose the temper and cause "loss of face". The concept of "saving face" is extremely important in East Asian social relationships.

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5/25
Marker Brunei
Street & Behavioral

Don't lose your face nor cause losing face to anyone - the role of the face, shame and honour are crucial for locals.

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6/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Business & Communication

Don't provide your passport as collateral when hiring vehicles - better use cash as deposit.

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7/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't publicly criticise the Sultan nor other members of Royal Family, Sharia Law, or Islam - it's strongly discouraged.

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8/25
Marker Brunei
Street & Behavioral

Don't show off your love in public - non-Muslims may be arrested for khalwat (close proximity between the sexes, even holding the hands or other affection).

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9/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't use left hand when handing over the things, receiving things nor when eating.

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10/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Street & Behavioral

Don't be too affectionate in public - kissing, cuddling and similar behaviour are frowned upon if in public, especially amongst older locals.

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11/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't give anything made of pigskin and don't give anything which is not halal. Bruneians usually don't invite foreigners into their homes.

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12/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't expect rush or informal communication - the communication style tends to be indirect and somewhat ambiguous. This is done to avoid embarrassing someone or causing either party to lose face. If you are from a more direct culture, you may find the use of evasive responses or insincere yeses frustrating. Most Bruneians find emotions such as impatience, anger, or irritation embarrassing and try to avoid them. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the foreigner to refrain from showing his/her inner f

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13/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Business & Communication

Don't pull the motorbike in the middle of the road when trying to turn right as you might be hit from behind or from the front by others. Most of the traffic accidents are caused by this as it's common vehicles are overtaking within each of the sides in parallel and stopping in the middle can cause you big troubles.

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Tell us your experience

Tell us your experience

We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?

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14/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Business & Communication

Don't point at people or things with your feet - it's considered very rude as the feet are considered as the most inferior parts of the human body.

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15/25
Marker Brunei
Street & Behavioral

Don't be surprised with different fuel-filling rules drivers of vehicles not registered in Brunei can only purchase the fuel (max 250 litres) at ten designated stations in the country. Filling a foreign car is more expensive.

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16/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't try to buy alcohol - it cannot be purchased in Brunei. However, two litres of spirits/wine and 12 cans of beer may be imported by non-Muslim adults for personal consumption in private.

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17/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't forget Friday is Muslim holy day - everything is closed.

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18/25
Marker Brunei
Social Events

Don't forget to place your fork facing downwards on the plate with spoon facing downwards crossing the fork.

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19/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't underestimate the difficulty of giving an absolute negative response by locals. They have many ways of giving a non-committal " yes". Phrases such as "it is inconvenient" or "we shall see" generally indicate a negative response.

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20/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Street & Behavioral

Don't show disrespect to Buddha or its images - large or small, ruined or not, it's regarded as a sacred object.

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21/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't ever mess with drugs - the death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking even the small amounts of illicit substances. You can be sentenced to ten years in prison if illegal drugs are found in your system, even if they were consumed outside of the country.

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22/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't forget the rainy season takes place between May-July.

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23/25
Marker Brunei
Business & Communication

Don't forget gambling, prostitution and pornography are illegal in Brunei under the harsh punishments.

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24/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Business & Communication

Don't try to outrun the rainstorm on your moped.

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Tell us your experience

Tell us your experience

We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?

Submit your story

25/25
Marker South-Eastern Asia
Street & Behavioral

Don't touch a monk. Treat monks with the highest respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of woman.

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