From forest to front room: A race against time to deliver the UAE's Christmas trees
Right now, somewhere in the Indian Ocean, 40-foot refrigerated containers are carrying freshly harvested Canadian Fraser Firs towards the UAE. The farmers in Quebec have done their part, alongside the logistics teams who spent months mapping alternative routes, negotiating insurance surcharges and calculating whether the numbers justified pressing ahead. But the same disruption reshaping global…
In the Indian Ocean, refrigerated containers loaded with freshly harvested Canadian Fraser Firs are en route to the UAE. The Canadian farmers have completed their task, as have the logistics teams who have meticulously planned alternative routes, insurance costs, and potential returns on investment. However, the ongoing challenges in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the extended transit times have strained the UAE's limited Christmas tree supply.
The result is a supply chain under immense pressure, leading to higher prices, limited availability, and logistical headaches.
Some UAE importers have chosen not to import trees for 2026 due to the high prices and unreliable shipping. Sadi Badar, who runs Al Rifaa Nursery and Zabeel Nursery, has decided to forego importing any trees this year, citing the unacceptably high costs and lack of accountability from suppliers. Other businesses have had to overhaul their logistics to ensure the timely arrival of their trees.
Spinneys, for instance, has split its shipment across two routes: road freight from Copenhagen to Mersin in Turkey, and then road freight from Mersin to the UAE.
While the additional costs are being absorbed by businesses like Spinneys, shoppers will still feel the impact through slightly higher retail prices. Christmas Trees UAE, which has been sourcing its trees from Quebec for 17 years, has faced even more challenges this year due to the complexity of the supply chain. Co-founder Simone Jucker and her team have worked closely with Canadian farmers, maritime shipping agents, and logistics providers to overcome the obstacles.
Despite the increased maritime freight costs and steep insurance surcharges, Christmas Trees UAE and its partner Oleander are committed to delivering high-quality trees. However, they are not prepared to pass on the full brunt of the global logistics spikes to their customers.
The uncertainty surrounding the trees' arrival has led some residents, like Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, to opt for artificial trees for the first time. As the trees continue their journey, shoppers are advised to check websites and stay updated on any changes in delivery dates.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
