Moving to Malta from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Malta? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Malta, you would find that Malta is 26.6% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,438 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly €62,341 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Maltese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 93°F in Abu Dhabi, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Arab Emirates and Malta.
What does your salary buy?
AED275,438 → €62,341
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more
Groceries
pay 40.7% more
Transportation
pay 63.6% more
Housing
pay 30.3% less
Childcare
pay 8.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United Arab Emirates to Malta.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to United Arab Emirates.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Malta leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malta performs significantly better than United Arab Emirates across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Malta generally does better on family life, though United Arab Emirates leads in literacy rate.
Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Abu Dhabi | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abu Dhabi | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates and Malta. To live, work, or study long-term in Malta, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malta's immigration authority.
United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Free
Malta passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Malta than United Arab Emirates?
On average Malta is about 4% less expensive than United Arab Emirates, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Budget about €15,585 for 3 months in Malta (based on a AED275,438 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Connectivity is usually fine (Malta: 43.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malta offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Malta safe for expats?
United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Malta leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to United Arab Emirates?
Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82).
What's the weather like in Malta compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic.
