Special Report: It's bloom-time for the flower business

Holland might be famous for its tulips, but Dubai could soon be known for its roses. Since last February, three million roses have been exported from Advanced Horticulture's farm - just outside Al Hayer, which is about halfway between Dubai and Al Ain - to Holland.

This might sound strange, but flower growing in the UAE is turning lucrative.

The Advanced Horticulture farm, which has four hectares of greenhouses brimming with roses, has the capacity to produce eight million stems a year.

On average a rose stem costs Dh1.25, so sales from the farm can reach Dh10 million a year, explained Roman Ruvynskyy, farm manager.

Demand for UAE-produced roses is now so high that exports to Holland have ceased.

"Now we have stopped because we get better prices for them here. It is a good market here and we get to save on the freight," said Ruvynskyy.

Imports from other countries, that used to supply the UAE with roses, have decreased. And it looks as though UAE's flower growing industry will continue to gather strength.

Advanced Horticulture, the emirate's largest rose producer, plans to expand in about a year.