Malta could soon be looking to the sea for solutions, as the government is considering large-scale land reclamation to help ease growing pressure on the country’s limited space.

During a press conference in Gozo, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Minister for the Economy Silvio Schembri, and the entire Cabinet unveiled Malta Vision 2050 — a bold, long-term strategy mapping out the island’s future over the next 25 years.

One of the most eye-catching proposals? Exploring land reclamation to create new space for national development.

With Malta’s population steadily rising and land already stretched to the limit, the government says innovative solutions are needed to meet increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, and open spaces. Malta currently has one of the highest population densities in Europe — and that pressure isn’t easing up anytime soon.

Land reclamation, which involves creating new land from the sea, has been used successfully around the world. Think the Netherlands’ extensive reclaimed regions, Singapore’s expanding coastline, or even Dubai’s Palm Islands. In each case, land reclamation has been used to accommodate booming populations and fuel economic growth.

So, could something similar work in Malta?

According to the Vision 2050 strategy, if approached sustainably and strategically, reclaimed land could be used to create new zones for housing, commercial activity, and even green open spaces — reducing the burden on already built-up areas and allowing for more thoughtful urban planning.

The government was clear: this isn’t a free-for-all. Any project of this scale would require in-depth environmental studies, sustainability assessments, and plenty of public consultation before moving forward.

The Vision 2050 document is the result of extensive stakeholder consultation across various sectors, and aims to guide Malta’s growth through innovation, resilience, and long-term planning.

What do you make of this?