Malta has claimed the top honour as the Best Cave/Cavern/Grotto Diving Destination in the World, according to Scuba Diving Magazine's prestigious 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.   The accolade, awarded by the official publication of the PADI Diving Club in the United States, represents recognition from experienced divers worldwide who voted based on their real-world underwater experiences. The award reinforces Malta and Gozo's position as premier international diving destination

As 2025 draws to a close, Business News Malta is celebrating the year's most compelling developments in Malta's business landscape with our "12 Days of Christmas" countdown. From groundbreaking investments and regulatory milestones to international recognition and strategic partnerships, these stories captured the attention of our readers and showcased Malta's dynamic evolution as a leading financial services hub and innovation centre.   12. Malta Secures €30 Million EIT Boos

Malta took centre stage in global maritime governance last week, hosting the first international meeting of shipping registry compliance officers focused on strengthening UN sanctions implementation across the maritime industry.   The Valletta-based Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), convened compliance officers and registry authorities from 37 countries alongside UN experts, EU re

Malta has recorded a 1,230% surge in venture capital funding during 2025, emerging as one of Europe's most striking success stories in the continent's recovering investment landscape, according to recent analysis.   The Mediterranean island nation has rapidly transformed from a micro-market into a genuine EU contender, driven by new funding vehicles including Go Ventures and the Seed Investment Initiative, alongside established support structures like Malta Enterprise and the

Dr Christopher P. Buttigieg from Malta's Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has been appointed to the Management Board of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Union's financial markets regulator and supervisor. The appointment, confirmed during the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 10, 2025, will see Buttigieg take up his position on January 1, 2026. Buttigieg will join the board alongside Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani from France's Autorité D

Malta will become the epicentre of European entrepreneurship on May 7-8, 2026, as the island hosts the 12th edition of the EU-Startups Summit, bringing together 2,500 founders, investors, and innovators from across the continent. Applications are now open for the summit's prestigious Pitch Competition , offering early-stage startups the opportunity to showcase their innovations before Europe's leading venture capitalists and secure prizes valued at over €750,000. The competit

Malta has recorded exceptional retail sector performance, posting the third-highest annual growth in retail trade volume across the European Union for October 2025, according to new Eurostat data. The calendar-adjusted retail sales index for Malta climbed an impressive 6.2% compared to October 2024, significantly outpacing EU-wide averages and demonstrating remarkable consumer spending strength. Only Cyprus at 9.9% and Bulgaria at 7.4% recorded stronger annual growth among Me

Malta’s economy continued its steady upward momentum in the third quarter of 2025, with GDP reaching €6.345 billion, marking a 5.7% increase compared to the same period last year. The figures point to an economy that remains resilient, with growth being driven largely by domestic activity and external demand. The services sector once again proved to be the engine of expansion. Strong performances were recorded in accommodation and food services, retail, and administrative and

Flexjet Malta has secured authorisation from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to operate on-demand private jet flights within Saudi Arabia. The approval, the second for a foreign operator since cabotage rules were lifted in May 2025, underlines growing international interest in the Kingdom's aviation sector and strengthens Malta's footprint in global private aviation. Andrew Collins, Flexjet's global chief executive, confirmed that the authorisation represents a

The opening of the new Smiro Qualitas facility at the Kordin Business Incubation Centre in Malta is another signal of how the country is focusing on innovation-driven growth. Officials say the move strengthens the local startup ecosystem, helping attract investment and supporting clinical-research ambitions. It reinforces Malta's commitment to building a sustainable, future-oriented economy. The pharmaceutical startup's inauguration ceremony drew Minister for the Economy, Ent