A Hg-free metal halide lamp comprising a substantially cylindrical discharge vessel with a ceramic wall having an internal diameter Di, an internal length Li and a wall thickness Wt, and filled with an ionizable filling, wherein two electrodes are present having a mutual distance EA for maintaining a discharge in the discharge vessel, wherein the filling comprises an inert gas and a salt, wherein the internal length Li is smaller than 8 mm, wherein the electrode distance EA and the internal diameter Di comply with the relation EA/Di>;2, wherein the inert gas pressure PXe at room temperature is at least 5 bar, and wherein the wall thickness Wt and the internal diameter Di comply with the relation Wt/Di>0.15.