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Homeโ€บDestinationsโ€บMiri
AsiaMalaysiaSarawak

Miri

Sarawak, Malaysia ยท Asia

About Miri

Miri sits on the route: 25 minutes from Kuala Baram.

Miri is a city located in Sarawak, Malaysia. With a population of 300,543, it is an important destination in Asia.

On a road trip, Miri sits in Malaysia, where you drive on the left. It's in the Asia/Kuching time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Miri to your route.

About Miri

Miri () is a coastal city in north-eastern Sarawak, Malaysia, located near the border of Brunei, on the island of Borneo. The city covers an area of 997.43 square kilometres (385.11 sq mi), located 798 kilometres (496 mi) northeast of Kuching and 329 kilometres (204 mi) southwest of Kota Kinabalu. Miri is the second

Read more largest city in Sarawak, with a population of 356,900 as of 2020. The city is also the capital of Miri District, Miri Division. Before Miri was founded, Marudi was the administrative centre of the northern region of Sarawak. Miri was founded in 1910 when the first oil well was drilled by Royal Dutch Shell. The discovery of an oil field in Miri has led to rapid development of Miri town. Miri became the administrative centre of the northern region of Sarawak by 1929. During World War II, the Miri oil fields were destroyed by the Brooke government to sabotage Japanese operations in Southeast Asia but to no avail; Miri town was the first landing point of Japanese troops in Borneo. The subsequent Japanese occupation led Miri to become a target of Allied air raids which caused the destruction of oil refinery facilities in Miri. The petroleum industry continued to be a major player in the city's economy after the war. Oil exploration has moved offshore since the 1950s, but subsequently new inland oil fields were found in 1989 and 2011. In 1974, the formation of Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas led to co-operation between Petronas and Shell on oil exploration in the Miri region. In 2005, Miri became the 10th city in Malaysia to be granted official city status, the first non-state-capital city to be bestowed such status. To commemorate the occasion, the Miri City Fan was created. The 26 acre urban civic park includes a promenade, parkland, Amphitheatre, musical fountain, library and cultural centre. The Miri City Fan was masterplanned by Teo A. Khing Design Consultants (TAK). Miri is the main tourist gateway to the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu National Park; Loagan Bunut National Park; Lambir Hills National Park; and Niah National Park and Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park. The Gunung Mulu National Park with its Sarawak Chamber, which is the largest known cave chamber in the world by area, remains one of the favourite ecotourism destinations in Miri. Miri is also the birthplace of the Malaysian petroleum industry. Other major industries in the city include timber, oil palm and tourism.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Miri

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Miri?

Miri offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Miri?

Plan your road trip to Miri with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Miri as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Miri located?

Miri is located in Sarawak, Malaysia, Asia. The coordinates are 4.3993 latitude, 113.9916 longitude.

What is the population of Miri?

Miri has a population of approximately 300,543 people, making it a city in Malaysia.

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Quick Information

Population
300,543
Continent
Asia
Country
Malaysia
Region
Sarawak
Timezone
Asia/Kuching
Coordinates
4.3993, 113.9916

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Malaysia

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
994
Driving side
left
Full driving guide for Malaysia

Tags

AsiaMalaysiaSarawakCity

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Miri.

Kuala Baram

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

21 km awayPop. 2,600

Kampung Sungai Teraban

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ณ Brunei

29 km awayPop. 1,082

Kuala Belait

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ณ Brunei

34 km awayPop. 31,178

Kampung Panaga

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ณ Brunei

41 km awayPop. 10,301

Bekenu

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

42 km awayPop. 1,113

Marudi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

43 km awayPop. 90,100

Seria

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ณ Brunei

44 km awayPop. 30,097

Beluru

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

48 km awayPop. 28,695

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)โ€ขWikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)โ€ขMapboxโ€ขPhotography: George Lawrence