How long does a typical civil court case take to resolve in Malta?

Timeframes for civil litigation in Malta, governed procedurally by the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, Chapter 12 of the Laws of Malta, vary considerably depending on the complexity of the case, the court involved, whether expert evidence or extensive witness testimony is required, and whether either party pursues an appeal, meaning it's genuinely difficult to give a single reliable figure, though straightforward matters can sometimes resolve within a year or so at first instance, while more complex or contested commercial disputes, particularly those that go through appeal, can realistically take considerably longer, sometimes several years. Given the time and cost involved in full litigation, it is worth seriously considering whether alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation or arbitration if your contract allows for it, might offer a faster and potentially less costly path to resolving your specific dispute, particularly for a commercial matter where an ongoing business relationship might still have value. A lawyer reviewing the specific facts and complexity of your dispute would be able to give you a more realistic, case-specific estimate of the likely timeline than a general average, and can also advise on whether interim measures might be relevant if there is urgency involved.