The idea to open a second university in Brunei was first addressed by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in his Titah delivered at UBD's 16th convocation in 2004 and again in 2005 at UBD's 17th convocation whereby His Majesty had stated that the second university shall be an Islamic university. The overall aim of the new university is to become a centre for the spread of Islam in the region.[1]