Did you know?
Labuan derives its name from the Malay word ‘Labuhan’, meaning ‘port’ or ‘harbour’, a reflection of the island’s status since ancient times. Labuan comprises the main island of Pulau Labuan and six surrounding islets, namely Pulau Burung, Pulau Daat, Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Papan, Pulau Rusukan Besar and Pulau Rusukan Kecil, covering a total of about 92 square kilometers.
About Labuan
Associated with safety and security, Labuan Island in its early days was a port of refuge for ships plying the waters of Borneo, providing shelter from storms and pirate attacks.
History
Labuan has a colourful past with historical affiliations to the Sultanate of Brunei, British Crown Colony and Empire of Japan.
Duty-free shopping
Labuan is Malaysia’s most established and the only duty-free island in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) triangle.
Offshore financial hub
Declared an International Offshore Financial Centre (IOFC) in 1990, Labuan is the region’s premier offshore financial hub, hosting thousands of offshore entities including some of the world’s largest financial institutions.