MORE Brits than ever are ditching the UK for Dubai, tempted by the warmer weather and tax-free incomes.
But there is a spot closer to home that more UK residents are heading to instead.
Malta is the sunny southern European archipelago that’s fast becoming a popular destination for Brits, competing with Dubai.
Aesthetically, Malta and Dubai are very different with one covered in new high rises and the other stone and medieval buildings.
But the look of the place isn’t the only aspect that’s encouraging Brits not just to visit Malta but to live there too.
Brits are packing up their belongings and flying to the sunny island country because of the lower tax rates.
The Times reported that one Brit who moved to Malta secured a retirement visa which had a flat 15 per cent tax rate on any income remitted to the country.
The visa includes access to statutory healthcare. Malta also doesn’t tax on gains from assets like inheritance, unlike in the UK.
Housing doesn’t necessarily break the bank either.
To get this particular visa, Brits must buy a property of at least €275,000 (£242,800) or rent somewhere at least €9,600 per year (£700 a month).
Malta has cheaper private school fees compared to the UK. One woman revealed that her son’s fees had been cut in half after moving.
The government in Malta offers tax breaks to parents who go private too.
Louise Salmond Smith, the head teacher of a private school called Haileybury Malta told The Times: “The cost of living versus quality of life is often, perhaps usually, cited as a reason to think about moving elsewhere, and many say they don’t think things are likely to improve very soon.”
And while Dubai is drastically different to the UK, Malta has a taste of Britain.
The British retiree who spoke to the Times revealed: “They drive on the same side of the road, there are red postboxes, HSBCs on the corner and they have Marks & Spencer.”
One woman who moved to Malta spoke to The Sun recently revealing she loves her new life in Malta.
Dayna Camilleri Clarke and her partner have started a new life in Valletta where she revealed some of the biggest perks is that there’s council tax, no TV licence, and car insurance costs are much less.
Dayna added: “Public transport is free, a recent vet check-up for my cat cost just €25 (£21.74), and with 300 days of sunshine a year, I’ve never needed the heating or a tumble dryer.
“Life doesn’t grind to a halt in winter either. In summer, it’s all alfresco dining and harbour views; in December, the city gate glows with a Christmas market – and you can still enjoy a lunch outside in the sun.”
Head here to read more on Dayna’s move to Valletta from the best places to eat to the best street for bars.
You don’t have to pack up your life though, just pack up a suitcase like one Sun Writer did in her recent trip to the country.
Nuria Cremer-Vazquez visited Malta in sunny July, where she found you could have a very familiar meal to Brits.
Nuria said: “It was intriguing how easy it is to come across a full English on this faraway archipelago.
“The British stopped ruling Malta in 1964, but they left behind a love for this breakfast along with other cultural footprints such as UK plugs, driving on the left and speaking English (an official language here alongside Maltese).
“I got used to the unexpected sight of red telephone boxes on the streets of cities like Mdina, an ancient fortress which otherwise looked like something out of Game Of Thrones.”
Nuria also discovered you can get Aperol Spritzes for just €4 – and that there are underground tunnels under the city.
Malta carries pieces of British culture in its streets, but there’s one thing that trumps it completely – the weather.
Malta experiences mild winters where the lowest temperatures will be around 9C – but can also be as high as 16C
In the summer, you can walk about in the sun as the archipelago has average highs of 32C.
If you fancy checking out Malta for yourself, you can fly to Valletta from £16 in November.
Plus, check out Europe’s ‘Grand Canyon’ that looks more like America with huge mountains and bright blue rivers.
For more adventure, this man left the UK to travel on £35 a day – and discovered an unheard of destination with fairytale canyons.