BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has announced a long-anticipated reform to the country’s land ownership law through the Land Code (Amendment) Order 2025, which will take effect on August 1.

The amendment aims to simplify and improve the process of land ownership for citizens and several categories of residents, including those holding stateless status — a move seen as significant in ensuring more inclusive access to property rights.

This marks the most significant amendment to Brunei’s land legislation in nearly a decade, following the last revision in 2016. 

His Majesty made the announcement during his 79th birthday titah, which was broadcast nationwide from Istana Nurul Iman.

While the land code amendment was the only new policy announced, His Majesty also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to several key national initiatives that have previously been outlined under Brunei Vision 2035 — the Human Resource Development, Social, and Economic Blueprints.

“These blueprints are designed to bring significant impact, particularly in safeguarding the continued well-being of the people and residents of this country,” His Majesty said.

Recognising the pressures of an evolving socio-economic landscape, His Majesty underscored the importance of revisiting governance methods and policy tools. “My government has undertaken a number of improvements to existing policies and laws,” he said.

Among the national initiatives reiterated in the titah:

• The forthcoming Digital Brunei Transformation Plan, which will focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) across sectors to drive innovation and efficiency.

• The Personal Data Protection Order, coming into force on January 1 2026, aimed at mitigating risks of data misuse and cyber threats to protect the public.

• The expansion of the Minimum Wage Order to seven additional industries, effective April 1, 2025 covering:

    • Banking and Finance
    • Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
    • Security
    • Tourism and Accommodation
    • Architecture, Professional Engineering, Quantity and Land Surveying
    • Medical and Dental
    • Private Higher Education

On workforce development, His Majesty reaffirmed support for upskilling programmes, including the rollout of 16 new courses under SKILLPLUS, aligned with industry needs and preparing citizens for economic transitions.

“I hope that the youth, in particular, will take this opportunity to develop and strengthen new skills, becoming capable and resilient future leaders,” His Majesty said.