Moving to Malta from United Arab Emirates

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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 €63,269 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.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Arab Emirates and Malta.

What does your salary buy?

AED275,438 €63,269

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

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 AED = 0.2391 EUR(June 2026)

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.

Living there in 2020
75 ↑ 114% vs 2015

people born in United Arab Emirates live in Malta · UN DESA

Who's moving to Malta?

Top countries of origin for Malta's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malta compared to United Arab Emirates.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AE
0.5
MT
0.6
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AE
5.9
MT
1.9

United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Malta leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AE
$3,727
MT
$5,706
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AE
29.1
MT
42.8

Malta generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AE
70.0
MT
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AE
18.3t
MT
3.2t

Malta performs significantly better than United Arab Emirates across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AE
40.0
MT
43.0
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AE
1533.3%
MT
78.3%

United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Malta leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AE
2.7%
MT
3.1%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AE
$75,600
MT
$57,200

United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Malta leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AE
79.6 yrs
MT
83.2 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AE
5.1
MT
4.5

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.

Abu DhabiRain: 3.5 in/yr (89 mm)
93°/68°F

Avg. annual high / low

VallettaRain: 21.8 in/yr (553 mm)
72°/59°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsAbu DhabiValletta
Jan–Mar78°/56°F (26°/14°C)60°/49°F (16°/10°C)
Apr–Jun99°/72°F (37°/22°C)74°/59°F (23°/15°C)
Jul–Sep106°/81°F (41°/27°C)85°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Oct–Dec87°/64°F (31°/18°C)69°/57°F (20°/14°C)
View all months
MonthAbu DhabiValletta
Jan75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C)
Feb76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C)
Mar83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C)
Apr92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C)
May101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C)
Jun103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C)
Jul108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C)
Aug107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C)
Sep104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C)
Oct96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C)
Nov87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C)
Dec78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C)

Data: Meteorological Office 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

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
United Arab Emirates passport holders can enter Malta without a visa.
Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa Free
Malta passport holders can enter United Arab Emirates without a visa.

Data: 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 €15,817 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.

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At a Glance

AE MT
Population9,915,803464,186
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)Euro (€)
LanguagesArabicEnglish, Maltese
Driving sideRightLeft
Calling code+971+356
Time zones11
Emergency number999112