Malta

Capital: Valletta

Language: English, Maltese

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Visa required — 90 days

Saudi passport holders (along with Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini, and Omani) need a short-stay Schengen visa to enter Malta, obtained in advance from the Maltese embassy in Riyadh or an authorized VFS Global center: required documents include a signed application form, a passport valid 3 months beyond the visa's expiry with at least 2 blank pages, two photos, and Schengen-compliant health insurance with a minimum €30,000 coverage. Processing takes about 15 working days, and an appointment (mandatory, often booked weeks in advance) is required. UAE passport holders, by contrast, are fully visa-exempt and can enter directly for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — though ETIAS electronic pre-authorization is expected to apply to them starting late 2026.

Official source ↗

⚠️ Guidance only — always verify with the official source before traveling.

🕓 Last officially verified: 25/07/2026

Halal food: Malta is a Catholic country with a small Muslim minority, so halal availability is not as wide as in Turkey or the UAE, but it is not rare either. Best bets are Middle Eastern/Turkish/dedicated halal restaurants, concentrated near the Muslim community areas (Paola, Marsa) plus scattered options in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian's. Supermarket chains (LIDL, Pavi, Welbee's) stock packaged, European-certified halal meat in many branches. Traditional Maltese fish/vegetable dishes (lampuki, ftira, bigilla, mqaret) are naturally halal and a safe default. For prayer, the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque in Paola is open for all five daily prayers, smaller prayer rooms exist in Marsa, and some Valletta/St. Julian's hotels provide qibla direction on request — but do not expect widespread public prayer facilities.

Malta is a moderately priced European destination — cheaper than Western Europe but not a budget destination. Mid-range restaurant meal: roughly SAR 100-170 per person. 3-star hotel per night: roughly SAR 250-480. Local transport: a bus ticket is about SAR 8, a short taxi ride SAR 40-75. A headline attraction (e.g. Valletta's old city sites or the megalithic temples): entry typically SAR 30-60 per person. A comfortable mid-range daily budget runs about SAR 450-800 per person including lodging, food, and local transport.

ℹ️ Prices are approximate and subject to change

Malta is a generally safe destination nationwide. No specific region requires extra caution — the only real concerns are ordinary petty crime (pickpocketing/theft) in busy tourist areas and beach rip currents at some coastal spots. Normal precautions around belongings and heeding beach swim-safety flags are sufficient.