Brunei

Is Brunei safe to visit?

Yes, and by most measures it is among the safest countries in Asia. The UN recorded 0.5 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2013, the most recent year it has, and neither the UK nor the US advises against travel to any part of the country. The US rates Brunei Level 1, the same as it does for low-risk European destinations. The things that catch visitors out are not crime but laws: alcohol sales are banned, a Sharia penal code covers some acts by non-Muslims, and criticism of the royal family can lead to prosecution. We score Brunei 89, a little below Singapore and well above neighbouring Malaysia.

Crime in Bandar Seri Begawan and beyond

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary calls crime levels low, with occasional petty theft against tourists and house burglaries. You can walk around the capital, the Kampong Ayer water village and the Gadong night market after dark without much worry. The usual advice still applies: keep your passport safe, carry little cash and do not leave bags on the seat of a parked car, even when it is out of sight.

Brunei has no recent history of terrorism, according to the FCDO, although it says attacks cannot be ruled out anywhere. Political protest is very rare in an absolute monarchy, so unrest is not a practical risk.

The laws that matter to visitors

Brunei is an Islamic monarchy, and its legal system is the main thing to plan around. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary lists the points that most often affect visitors:

• Alcohol. Its sale is illegal. Non-Muslims aged 17 and over may bring in a limited amount, declare it on arrival and drink it in private. Tobacco cannot be bought legally either.
• Relationships. Adultery, and closeness in private between an unmarried man and woman, are illegal if either person is Muslim. Public displays of affection can cause offence.
• LGBT+ travellers. Same-sex sexual activity is criminalised, with penalties up to death by stoning, whipping and prison under the Sharia penal code. A moratorium on the death penalty is in place and the FCDO sees little evidence of recent enforcement, but the law stands. Cross-dressing is also an offence and is occasionally punished with fines.
• Drugs. Penalties are severe and can include death. Other crimes can be punished by caning.
• Royal family. Public criticism of the Sultan or his family, including online, can lead to legal action.

During Ramadan it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight hours. Shops and restaurants close between midday and 2pm on Fridays for prayers.

Roads and getting around

Driving is the main physical risk, though Brunei's roads are safer than most in the region. WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 3.6 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, in line with the 16 deaths officials counted that year in a population of about 450,000. Police said running red lights and not wearing seatbelts were the top causes of crashes. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary adds that speeding is common, child seats are often not used, road surfaces are uneven and monitor lizards, snakes and monkeys wander onto roads.

Visitors can drive on a UK licence for up to 90 days. Foreign-registered cars can buy fuel only at designated stations. If you have a crash, stay at the scene and call the police on 993. Public buses are limited, so most visitors use taxis or the Dart ride-hailing app.

Rainforest, rivers and wildlife

Brunei's big draw is Ulu Temburong National Park, reached by boat and road through primary rainforest. Police advise against hiking alone in the forest, even at well-known recreation areas, because it is easy to get lost. Use a recognised guide, stay on trails, carry water and a torch, and wear closed shoes.

Saltwater crocodiles have killed people fishing on riverbanks around the capital, according to the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary, and have been seen on beaches. Keep away from the water's edge and keep your hands inside water taxis. Check that boats carry life jackets for everyone, including children.

Heavy monsoon rain can cause flash floods and landslides, and smoke haze from forest fires in Indonesia sometimes drifts over Borneo in the dry season. Brunei is outside the main typhoon belt and earthquakes are rare.

Health care

Dengue is present, so use insect repellent, but the CDC does not list malaria tablets for Brunei. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary describes care as generally acceptable at the government RIPAS hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan and the private Jerudong Park Medical Centre, though basic supplies sometimes run low. Serious complications may need evacuation to Singapore, so carry insurance that covers it. Call 991 for an ambulance. Some medicines sold over the counterOver-the-counterA medicine you can buy without a prescription, in a pharmacy or shop, with directions on the pack for safe use without a doctor.More in the glossary in the UK need a prescription in Brunei.

How we scored it

Violent crime (95), conflict (93) and petty crime (90) are the strongest factors. Road safety (91) rests on WHO's 2021 estimate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000. Health (75) is the weakest, because serious cases may need evacuation. The homicide figure dates from 2013 and road data after 2021 are sparse, so confidence is medium. The legal restrictions are not part of the score, but LGBT+ travellers in particular should weigh them before going.