Flowers & Plants air freight from United Arab Emirates to Israel

Why ship flowers & plants by air freight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Air freight is not just an option — it’s the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday need to be at the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible through air freight with a controlled cold chain.

The Netherlands is the world’s largest trading nation in cut flowers, and Schiphol is the epicenter. Aircargo.nl has years of experience with the specific demands of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

• Kenya (roses, lilies) → Schiphol: several times daily
• Ecuador & Colombia (roses, chrysanthemums) → Schiphol via Miami or direct
• Ethiopia → Schiphol: growing cut flower sector
• Export Dutch flowers → USA, Japan, Russia, China

Exporting to the UAE

The UAE is one of the fastest-growing economies globally and a top destination for Dutch exporters, especially in the construction, technology, luxury goods, and food sectors. Dubai World Central (DWC) and Dubai International (DXB) together form one of the busiest air cargo hubs in the world.

Customs & Requirements

The UAE has low customs duties (standard 5%) and a straightforward import regime — one of the reasons the country is so popular as a trading destination. However, documents must be fully accurate: a missing or incorrect invoice will immediately cause delays. Alcoholic beverages, certain medicines, and dual-use goods are strictly regulated or prohibited.

Practical Information

• Halal certification mandatory for food products
• Flight time from AMS about 7 hours — next-day delivery possible for urgent shipments
• The AED currency is pegged to the USD — providing a stable trade environment
• Ramadan causes adjusted working hours — plan shipments accordingly

Importing from Israel

Imports from Israel largely consist of high-tech products: medical devices, semiconductor equipment, defense components, and agri-tech. Additionally, the Netherlands imports significant volumes of fresh products such as dates, citrus fruits, and flowers via Schiphol.

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

Sea freight from Haifa or Ashdod to Rotterdam takes 8–12 days. Air freight via Schiphol is usually ready for clearance within 1 business day — essential for fresh products and high-value tech shipments.

Customs for Imports from Israel

Under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, many Israeli products enjoy preferential import duties or even zero tariffs, provided they are accompanied by a correct EUR.1 or invoice declaration. EU phytosanitary inspections for fresh products are conducted at Schiphol by the NVWA. Aircargo.nl handles full clearance including NVWA coordination.

Top Requested Goods from Israel

• Medical equipment and diagnostics
• Semiconductor and optical components
• Fresh products (dates, citrus, herbs, flowers)
• Software, hardware, and defense technology

UAE as a regional distribution hub

Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) are the logistics centers of the Middle East. Many goods destined for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, or Pakistan are routed via the UAE. Aircargo.nl can forward shipments via Schiphol to Dubai, after which our local agent handles distribution in the region.

The UAE enforces a zero-tolerance customs policy: documents must be completely accurate. Our documentation specialists review every shipment before departure.

Key considerations for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept at 2–8°C throughout transport. Any break in temperature accelerates aging and reduces shelf life for the end buyer. Aircargo.nl only works with certified cold-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

Imports of plants and cut flowers from outside the EU require a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms the shipment is free of pests. Aircargo.nl routinely verifies and processes all phytosanitary documents.

CITES

Certain orchids and exotic plants fall under CITES protection and require a CITES permit. Always contact us if you’re unsure about the CITES status of your products.