As you make your way across the bridge to Sentosa for a fun day out, you would have to pass by an island full of shipping containers. This is Pulau Brani, and it’ll soon be full of new attractions you can enjoy as part of the Greater Sentosa Master Plan. Here’s the lowdown on the island’s history and what you can expect in the near future.
Image credit: Uncover65 – Explore Singapore via Facebook
Long before Singapore gained independence, Pulau Brani was already hard at work as an industrial island. The Straits Trading Company opened a tin smelting plant here back in 1890, producing what became known as “Straits Tin” – a name recognised worldwide for having the highest quality.
Image credit: Uncover65 – Explore Singapore via Facebook
In case you don’t speak Bahasa Melayu, Pulau Brani actually translates to “isle of the brave”, and true to its name, the island has also played a significant part in Singapore’s defences. Fort Teregah was built on the southernmost point of Pulau Brani in 1861, and Singapore’s first naval base, Brani Naval Base, was also opened here in 1971.
Image credit: The Pulau Brani Project
You may have heard of people living on Pulau Ubin, but some people also used to call Pulau Brani home. The island was once home to the Orang Laut, and until the 1960s, around 500 Malay and Chinese residents lived in stilt houses here. They were later relocated to the mainland to make way for Brani Naval Base.
Image credit: Island Nation
Currently, Pulau Brani still remains largely an industrial area, with most of the island being taken up by the Brani Port Terminal. While Brani Naval Base has since been replaced by another naval base, the site is now occupied by the Police Coast Guard headquarters.
Image credit: @Battlefield via X
If you’re a gamer, you might also recognise Pulau Brani as the setting for the Manifest map in Battlefield 2042. But unlike what the game predicts, the island won’t remain as a container port by 2042, thanks to the Greater Sentosa Master Plan.
The Greater Sentosa Master Plan is aimed at rejuvenating the southern coastline of Sentosa and Pulau Brani. It was first announced in 2019 as the Sentosa-Brani Master Plan, with the hopes of turning the 2 islands into a premier tourist destination.
Image credit: Sentosa Development Corporation via LinkedIn
If you think about getting to Sentosa, you’d probably think of hopping on the Sentosa monorail from VivoCity. But soon, you’ll have even more ways to get to the island through Pulau Brani. There are plans to improve connectivity from the mainland to Greater Sentosa, and there’ll also be a transport hub connecting Sentosa and Pulau Brani.
Image credit: Sentosa Development Corporation via LinkedIn
The 2 islands under Greater Sentosa will be split into 5 redevelopment zones – in particular, you’ll find 3 zones in Pulau Brani. The Vibrant Cluster will feature large-scale themed attractions for families, while you’ll find hotels, retail and other attractions at the Island Heart Cluster, right in the middle of the development. Meanwhile, closer to the mainland, you’ll find the Waterfront Cluster, which will feature a futuristic discovery park.
Image credit: Sentosa Development Corporation
It may be in with the new, but that doesn’t mean we’re completely going out with the old – you’ll still see elements of Singapore’s port heritage among the new developments on Pulau Brani. In particular, port architecture, like the container cranes, is expected to be retained in the city-facing Waterfront Cluster.
Image credit: BiblioAsia
The Master Plan is also keeping an eye out for the marine life surrounding the islands. As the islands get redeveloped, the natural habitats and wetland areas, such as the coral reefs between Pulau Brani and Sentosa, will be restored.
As you would expect from a plan as ambitious as this, works on the Greater Sentosa Master Plan are expected to be completed by 2045. But don’t worry if you can’t wait that long, as some new developments and attractions will also open before then.
And if you want to get a sneak peek of what’s to come, there are exhibitions planned to showcase future plans for Greater Sentosa at VivoCity and other heartland areas, and they are scheduled for July 2026.
In case you were looking for something new to do at Sentosa, just wait a little longer for the redevelopments on Pulau Brani. It might seem like a long time, but rest assured that you’re in for a whole new slew of adventure on the southern coastline.
For more on Singapore’s future:
Cover image adapted from: Island Nation, Sentosa Development Corporation via LinkedIn
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