Flowers-on-delivery in the Gulf is easy for retail customers. Flowers can be ordered in the morning and delivered to your door by the end of the same day with little-to-no hassle. On the other side of that simple experience is a logistics network that is highly dependent on climatic conditions, road infrastructure and other building regulations that differ between neighbouring emirates. For those purchasing cut flowers into Sharjah in particular, the market has its own unique characteristics, which differ from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the global flower industry.

How Cut Flower Delivery Works in the UAE

Most cut flowers sold in the UAE are imported from the Netherlands, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ecuador. The stems are delivered to Dubai’s wholesale flower market within 48 hours of being picked and then sold to retail florists in the seven emirates. The quality of stem from wholesaler to consumer relies on the cold chain. Any disruption of that chain – at the sorting station, warehouse or last mile transporting the product to the florist – reduces vase life.

Why Sharjah Is a Distinct Delivery Market

Sharjah is located within easy travelling distance from Dubai’s flower market and has its own distribution area. The emirate’s road system routes many cars through a limited number of arteries during rush hour and the times of prayer impact on the timing of delivery deadlines around building security desks. Each residential complex in the Al Majaz, Al Nahda and Al Qasba areas has its own front desk procedures. Delicate flowers, like time, are best used wisely. Florists who service Sharjah and Dubai usually have their own Sharjah delivery route, rather than tack on Sharjah deliveries to a trip to Dubai, rather than tacking Sharjah to a trip to Dubai.

Climate Pressure on the Gulf Flower Trade

The outdoor temperature in the UAE often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius from April to September. Cut flowers exposed to temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius start wilting and accumulating bacteria after a few hours. So, the last mile is more important in the Gulf than in most other markets around the world. When not delivered in a refrigerated truck, a bouquet sent in July is less likely to arrive on time and in as good condition as the same bouquet delivered in January.

Refrigerated Transit and Vase Life

Refrigerated trailers and insulated boxes both function, but have different characteristics. The refrigerated vehicle maintains a desired temperature over a multi stop route. The insulated box and ice packs work to gain time if there are only a few deliveries. If a buyer wants to check out a florist’s supply chain efficacy, he/she could ask the operator which method he/she uses and how many stops a vehicle makes in a day.

What to Check Before Ordering Flowers into Sharjah

A small number of practical checks separate reliable operators from less careful ones. Buyers can ask:

1. Does the florist publish specific delivery windows rather than an open ended same day promise?
2. Does the delivery vehicle maintain temperature control appropriate to the season?
3. What is the policy on failed first attempt deliveries, and how quickly is a second attempt made?
4. Does the florist run its own fleet, or hand stems to a third party courier?

The difference between a two hour redelivery window and a next day retry is the difference between fresh stems and tired ones on arrival.

Local Operators and Published Delivery Windows

For buyers who want a local operator with a published service standard, sharjah flowers delivery is offered by a small number of emirate based florists that publish specific delivery windows and run their own vehicles rather than handing stems to a third party courier. Specialised last mile services can offer more reliable results in the warmer months, when every hour the flowers spend in transit is taken off their life span.

FAQs

How long does flower delivery take in Sharjah?

Genuine florists operating in the emirate advertise a delivery time of 2-4 hours for same day orders placed by a cut off time (typically midday). Florists charge for next day delivery of orders made later in the day.

Do Sharjah florists deliver on weekends and public holidays?

Emirate-based florists generally provide seven day a week (including Friday) delivery. During Eid and public holidays service levels differ and can be found on the florist’s website.

Why does same day delivery cost more in summer?

Vehicle and fuel costs associated with the last-mile are higher in summer, due to the cost of maintaining the cold chain. Carriers who invest in refrigerated vehicles typically pass on to their customers the increased cost of operations via a surcharge.

Conclusion

In the Gulf’s flower industry, as much as florists know about flowers, they should know about the climate and the roads. When buying into Sharjah, the fastest way to filter florists is to select one that has its own delivery fleet, rather than outsourcing, posts delivery times, and runs a cold chain for the last mile.