Bruneian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Brunei is a small sultanate on the island of Borneo, surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. It is known for its rainforests, its golden-domed mosques and its oil and gas industry. Malay is the official language, and English is widely spoken. Brunei has long sent students to British universities.

The community in numbers

The 2021 Census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for the Bruneian community, which is counted within the census's figures for people born elsewhere in South-East Asia. By any measure it is one of the city's smaller communities, which makes the ties between its members all the closer.

Working for Birmingham

Bruneian students in Birmingham study medicine, engineering, business, law and education, and many return home to careers in government, healthcare and industry. Their time in the city builds lasting friendships and strengthens the long-standing ties between Brunei and Britain.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Bruneian community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Hari Raya Aidilfitri, at the end of Ramadan, is the most important celebration, marked with open houses and family meals. Ambuyat, a dish made from sago, is a national favourite, and Bruneian students share their food and traditions at cultural events on campus.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Bruneian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.