Brunei-Muara District

Brunei-Muara District is the sultanate's smallest but most populous district, containing the capital Bandar Seri Begawan and 70% of the national population in an area of just 570 km². The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque—golden-domed landmark visible from the river—symbolizes the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) ideology that defines Bruneian identity. The district hosts government administration, the University of Brunei Darussalam, and the Hengyi petrochemical complex on Pulau Muara Besar—a China joint venture processing 200,000 bpd that has transformed non-oil exports from under 10% (2019) to 70% of total exports. Kampong Ayer, the world's largest water village with 30,000+ residents, extends into Brunei Bay as a living museum of pre-petroleum settlement patterns. With GDP per capita at $33,470 (2024) and 4.2% growth, Brunei-Muara concentrates both wealth distribution and diversification efforts—though the government admits tax revenue cannot cover expenses without oil receipts. By 2026, the district's trajectory depends on whether petrochemical downstream integration succeeds in reducing dependence on the depleting upstream that still funds everything.