When a Dutch tulip lands in a Dubai arrangement, it has travelled roughly 5,000 kilometres in about three days — and survived because every link in the chain was cold and fast. Here is exactly how Holland's flowers reach the UAE, and why the journey matters to what you eventually buy.

Step 1: The auction

It begins at Royal FloraHolland, the largest flower auction in the world. Growers bring freshly cut stems, and buyers bid in real time using the famous 'Dutch auction' clock that counts down on price. This is where global flower prices are effectively set each morning, and where our buyers secure stock to spec.

Step 2: Grading and packing

Won lots are graded by length and head size, sleeved to protect the blooms, and packed into boxes — all in a temperature-controlled environment. The flowers are pre-cooled so they enter transit already at the right temperature, buying precious hours of vase life.

Step 3: Air freight to Dubai

  • Boxes move to Amsterdam Schiphol and onto temperature-managed cargo flights.
  • Flight time to Dubai is roughly seven hours; total auction-to-DXB is typically 48–72 hours.
  • Maintaining the cold chain in the aircraft hold is critical — a warm leg here cannot be undone later.

Step 4: Customs and cold storage

On arrival the shipment clears UAE customs and inspection, then moves immediately into refrigerated storage. The faster this hand-off, the fresher the final stem. Experienced importers pre-clear paperwork so flowers spend the minimum possible time on the tarmac.

Every hour saved between the auction clock and our cold room is an hour of vase life handed to the customer.

Step 5: Conditioning and delivery

Finally, stems are recut, hydrated, and conditioned in our Dubai cold room before going out for delivery. By the time flowers reach a florist or event, they have been cold and cared-for at every step — which is precisely why provenance and a controlled chain matter more than the lowest sticker price.

Want genuine Holland imports with the cold chain intact? That is exactly what we do, every week. Ask us what is arriving next.