Lifestyle & Society

Home

Lifestyle & Society

A little Mediterranean island with a cosmopolitan lifestyle

Living in Malta opens the door to the famed Mediterranean lifestyle, rich in history, adventure and exceptional cuisine. Malta’s cultural melting pot makes the island feel like home for its growing expat community, with a simple stroll along the Sliema waterfront revealing a tapestry of languages and cultures, reflecting the island’s vibrant, cosmopolitan yet warm nature.

Malta’s expat appeal

It is impossible to whittle down the manifold reasons for Malta’s continuing allure. This is partly due to the incredible diversity of foreign individuals now present on the islands, making up over one quarter of the country’s total workforce. It is also because, as many who live on the islands can attest, there is so much to love.

Business-minded individuals will point to the ease of making business and social connections, authorities’ readiness to provide assistance, and the many opportunities created through Malta’s tenacious efforts to develop its economy. Those looking to preserve and grow their wealth might instead single out the quality of financial services providers and the benefits afforded by the jurisdiction’s regulatory frameworks and tax code.

The Mediterranean climate advantage

The macro marketing pitch about Malta may lean a bit too heavily on its gorgeous weather. Any concern that it is overhyped is however quickly dispelled when speaking to any foreign resident in the country. Living in Malta, from a weather point of view, is a luxury. No matter one’s money-related goals, they all taste a bit sweeter under clear blue skies and ample sunshine, in daytime temperatures that range from 17°C to 32°C. The vast array of leisure activities available are suited to everyone’s flavour, whether you prefer to chill by the pool of a luxury resort, take over a private villa, or charter a yacht and spend time out at sea.

Networking and lifestyle integration

Such lifestyle activities are also at the heart of Malta’s relational way of doing business, creating myriad networking opportunities for those looking to immerse themselves in the islands’ community.

All this takes place against the backdrop of a breath-taking architectural landscape boasting three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and countless other attractions related to the country’s chequered history, which has led to Malta being dubbed an open-air museum.

Malta’s culinary scene

Culinary enthusiasts will appreciate the recent proliferation of high-quality dining establishments offering a range of regional and global cuisines, with some receiving accolades from the Michelin Guide. Notably, in 2024 a Maltese restaurant was awarded its second Michelin Star for the first time, highlighting the island’s culinary progress.

Easy integration

Since practically everyone speaks English, new arrivals tend to integrate quickly. The large number of foreign nationals who have come to call the islands home has also spurred the development of an ecosystem of legal, real estate and childcare service-providers, to name a few, tailored to sophisticated and exacting standards.

Malta also boasts top-tier healthcare facilities and schools, including three institutions primarily serving the expat community, catering to the needs of young families and retirees alike.

Safety and security

Despite its bustling environment, Malta remains one of the safest countries in the world, with crime largely confined to isolated incidents. Residents report feeling safe walking alone at all hours, supported by the country’s strong security record and stable political climate – factors that appeal particularly to young families and retirees seeking peace of mind.

Connectivity and travel links

Malta’s position straddling Europe and North Africa, and its growing ties to the Middle East, are supported by excellent air links to most regional capitals and major cities, the majority of which are less than a three-hour flight away, while world-class marinas and growing superyacht and private aircraft servicing industries provide those with such assets everything they might need for unfettered movement by sea or air.

Lasting appeal

All told, people often find the quality of life available in Malta to be nothing short of superb. A common joke heard in expat circles references the Classical Greek poet Homer’s seminal Odyssey.

Ulysses, trying to make his way back home after the Trojan War, finds himself on the island of Calypso, a nymph who entrances him with her land’s magnificent beauty, preventing him from leaving. That land is today better known as Gozo, and the joke goes that the spell Calypso wrought 3,000 years ago is no less powerful today.

Malta and Gozo’s allure remains, and many who land in the country for what they expect would be a temporary stay find that roots are quick to grow in its fertile soil. Whether your residency is occasional, seasonal, or permanent, and whether coming as an individual or with a family, you might very well think the same.