20 Aug 2006

Dubai: Dubai's emergence as a hub for commerce and tourism has sprouted a sizable trade in flowers and plants.

Although reliable figures about market size are not available, people associated with the industry see a huge potential for growth.

According to Maryam Al Noori, vice-president of the UAE Flowers and Plant Association, the market grew by about 40 per cent in 2005 and similar growth is expected this year.

There are an estimated 4,500 companies involved in the horticulture business and trading of flowers and plants in the country.

"The number of hotels and business establishments is growing fast in Dubai so the flower business will only bloom.

"Dubai's location makes it a natural transshipment hub for east-west trade in perishable goods," Al Noori said.

The Dh257-million Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), which officially opened for business last month, is launching a marketing campaign to promote the flower trade.

Operating as a free zone, the centre has a capacity of 180,000 tonnes of perishable goods a year.

Located adjacent to the international airport, it offers office space and warehousing facilities and has received 11 tenants so far.

The centre boasts implementation of the cool chain process from the aircraft arrival until pick-up by the consignee.

Additional services include vacuum cooling, rapid cooling, storage at various temperatures and hermetically sealed bays for ethylene producing products.

In the second phase of expansion, a similar facility may be set up at the new airport in the Jebel Ali area.

Dubai hopes it will be able to promote the centre's facilities to flower traders in neighbouring countries as well.

Ahmad Reza Maroofi, finance manager of Iranian rose exporter Moerheim, sees Dubai as a lucrative flower market.

"The market for roses alone could be Dh500 million per year," he said.

He estimates the city consumes at least 200,000 rose stems per week, and this figure could rise to one million as Dubai grows as a tourism destination.

To make a wide variety of flowers and plants available, Dubai imports these items from a large number of countries.

Exporting countries include Holland, Kenya, Ecuador, Iran and India.

Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.