Mellieħa Bay, also known as Għadira Bay, is the largest and one of the most beautiful and popular sandy beaches in Malta. It is located in the northern part of the Island, just off the town of Mellieħa. The beach is also known as Għadira (pron. a- deerah) Bay and is roughly 800m long. It was awarded Blue Flag status, which is a recognition of quality based on water quality, environmental management, safety and services, among other indicators.