Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546133
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 AUGUST 2026 Supporting Maltese citizens at home and abroad The Directorate for Consular Services and Maltese Living Abroad Emergency consular assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays, through a dedicated phone line set up to receive requests and provide immediate assistance whenever possible. Maltese citizens requiring urgent assistance abroad should contact the nearest Maltese Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, where available, or the Ministry for Foreign and European Aairs in Valletta on +356 2204 0000. For more information on Travel Advice, Maltese Representations abroad and emergency services, visit ConsularPlus on consularplus.gov.mt. Another equally important part of the Directorate's work is guiding travellers in making the appropriate preparations before they travel abroad. During the summer months, a nationwide awareness campaign is launched to encourage the public to make use of the ConsularPlus website and the Traveller's Guide, which provide practical information to help travellers make informed decisions before departure. Travellers are also encouraged to consult the latest Travel Advice before departure, which highlights country-specic safety and security information for over 200 countries and territories. Preparing in advance by checking passport validity, keeping copies of identication documents and familiarising oneself with local conditions can help prevent unnecessary diculties. As the summer travel season reaches its peak, thousands of Maltese citizens set o abroad, travelling to destinations across the globe for holidays, family visits and other commitments. With this rise in international travel, the need for accessible and reliable consular support also increases signicantly. During this busy period, the Directorate for Consular Services and Maltese Living Abroad plays a vital role in ensuring that Maltese citizens have access to support whenever they need it. The Directorate provides assistance to Maltese travellers who nd themselves in distress abroad, whether due to the loss or theft of travel documents, medical emergencies, crime, arrests or detention, or other unforeseen circumstances. In such situations, it serves as the main point of contact between the individual abroad and their family in Malta, working closely with Malta's Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and Honorary Consuls to coordinate assistance and ensure that support is provided in a timely and eective manner. Summer can also bring increased travel disruptions, ranging from ight cancellations caused by extreme weather and natural disasters to public health and security incidents. In such situations, the Directorate maintains constant communication with Malta's diplomatic network and local authorities in aected areas to monitor developments and coordinate assistance for Maltese citizens. Where necessary, the Directorate's Crisis Centre is activated during major international emergencies aecting Maltese nationals, as was recently required during the Middle East crisis earlier this year. Middle East ight cancellations stranded Maltese nationals both within the region and en route to Asia, Africa, and Oceania, as major transit hubs like Dubai and Doha suspended commercial operations during peak travel season. Additional phone lines were activated to handle the increased call volume. With alternative European routes quickly lling up, Malta organised a dedicated evacuation ight which successfully repatriated 158 citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates.