Passion and the courage to start something new have been the pillars of Duncan Micallef’s life to date. These guiding principles have taken him from playing for the national football team to a highly accomplished career in motorsports that saw him named the fastest man in Europe in drag racing.

In business, the same pillars allowed Duncan to build one of the country’s largest mobile phone and electronics distribution companies whilst branching out into property development. “I had been watching Malta’s property market ever since my parents bought their first house when I was very young,” Duncan says. “In three decades, property prices never dropped. Malta’s role in Europe has grown, but we are still a small country with limited space to build. That’s why property prices will continue to increase.”

Having started as a part-time property investor over 20 years ago, Duncan eventually left mobile and electronics distribution to concentrate on property full-time. He teamed up with some of his previous clients to establish a partnership, and they now form the leadership team of CF Estates Ltd. As a leader in both property development and the hotel industry, CF Estates Ltd has now set its sights on changing how locals and visitors think about entertainment in the Maltese islands; most recently, overseeing the launch of the country’s premier entertainment facility, Planet Play at the Mercury Shopping District.

As the director of the company’s hotels and leisure divisions, Duncan shaped the team’s hotel developments in St Julians. “I was born in St Julians, and I know Paceville inch by inch,” Duncan explains. Even though he played a part in growing tourism in the area, Duncan also spotted opportunities to do something different.

“I’ve had this dream of having a karting track of my own,” he says. “I shared it with my partners, and they supported it.” The concept became more ambitious over time, and the idea for Planet Play was born. CF Estates set out to create a world-class entertainment destination that would attract tourists and Maltese residents right to the heart of Paceville.

“Malta is not known for being an entertainment destination,” Duncan says. “We have beaches, hotels, and much more, but I saw a real untapped market with room to grow and an opportunity to develop something different. So, we threw significant funds and all our passion behind Planet Play.” The first few months have flown by. “We are still learning every day because no one else has done something like this before in Malta.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given Duncan’s racing background and continuing involvement in the sport, the karting track is the main attraction of Planet Play. However, it’s not all about karts and racing at Planet Play: “We knew that karting alone wouldn’t work and that we needed more attractions,” Duncan adds.

The team worked with global industry leaders to bring Europe’s best virtual reality simulators to Malta. The simulators deliver experiences complete with wind, smell, and moving floors, allowing users to become fully engrossed.

Planet Play is also home to Malta’s only ice rink and an elevated obstacle rope course. Both are open to children and adults. “Our goal was to deliver back-to-back attractions that keep people coming back,” Duncan explains. Customers using the rope course will have karts passing underneath, enticing them to try another activity just as soon as their current one finishes. “Of course, safety is paramount, no matter how adventurous the activities are,” Duncan says. Safety is also paramount at Playtopia, which stands out as one of the largest, most modern, and safest soft play areas in Malta for young children.

Over the coming months, the team is looking to add arcade games and professional car simulators to Planet Play. “We’re sure that Planet Play will be a hit with tourists, but we’re just as excited to offer something new to the Maltese market,” Duncan says. “Planet Play is an excellent option for team-building events, for example.”

Aside from sourcing adventurous activities, delivering only the highest levels of quality has been key in the creation of Planet Play. “With tourism and property development, we believe the future lies in focusing more on quality than quantity,” Duncan believes. “With Planet Play, we took a risk and made a big investment. Our goal is to create a benchmark and inspire others to invest in quality, too.”

So, what will keep locals and visitors coming back? For repeat business, Duncan Micallef is looking to his days on the racetrack for inspiration: “We’re adding a competitive element to our attractions. The karting track, car simulator, and rope course will be timed with prizes for the fastest participants,” Duncan says. There will also be prizes for the VR events.

What’s up next for Duncan? “I like to keep my partners busy and come up with new ideas,” he laughs. “That is my position within CF Estates: always trying to come up with something new to pursue.”

As President of the Malta Motorsport Federation, Duncan’s sights are set on the expansion of the drag racing track at Hal Far to create the premier motorsport complex of its kind in the Mediterranean. The project will improve the existing facilities to meet the International Automobile Federation (FIA)’s standards. Once completed, the upgrades would allow the track to be added to the official FIA calendar and host international-level races.

On top of that, there is a very personal project Duncan is hoping to develop: “I want to build a place for poor and disadvantaged people,” he says. “I envisage a house where some of the less fortunate among us can come and get food and access facilities they couldn’t otherwise take advantage of.”

Driven by the same passion as Duncan’s motorsports and property development interests, this project is bound to become a success, too.