The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RYMC) has been ordered by the courts to vacate its premises in Ta' Xbiex.

The decision by the Court of Appeals follows a saga dating back to 2002.

The Malta Playing Fields Association had said, in the judgement, that on 29 August 2002,  it had been given temporary emphyteusis by the government over the land in Ta' Xbiex. Then in 2008, the government expropriated the land, and in September 2009, the Commissioner for Lands and the council that administered the site following the expropriation, gave the land through an emphyteusis to the RMYC for 49 years.

The Malta Playing Fields Association argued that it contested the expropriation and through a judgement in 2014, which was confirmed in 2015, the expropriation was declared null. In 2020, the club was ordered to vacate the lido by the court.

Three appeals were filed by the RYMC, Sports Malta and the Lands Authority.

However, the Court of Appeal has upheld the decision for the yacht club to vacate the premises within two months.

Lawyers Mark Refalo and Manuel Galea represented the Malta Playing Fields Association.