Flame Tree: The OG Dubai Trendsetter

Tokyo has sakura. Washington has cherry blossoms. The Netherlands has tulips. Dubai has flame trees and for a few weeks every year, the whole city turns red.

Every year from May to July, Dubai’s streets are coloured red-orange as flame trees come into full bloom. For most residents, it’s the unofficial sign that summer has officially arrived.

Flame tree (Delonix regia) is native to Madagascar and was brought to Dubai decades ago as part of the city’s greening efforts. While not many tropical species can handle the Gulf’s extreme heat, the flame tree adapted surprisingly well to local conditions and became a common sight across roads, parks and residential neighbourhoods.

Over time, its bright red-orange canopy turned it into one of Dubai’s most recognizable summer symbols.

This year, Dubai officially launched Flame Tree Season, a campaign led by Sheikh Hamdan together with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Future Foundation.

The goal is simple: encourage people to spend more time outdoors, celebrate the city’s seasonal bloom and support Dubai’s growing focus on greener neighbourhoods and public spaces.

@flametreeseason documents blooms across the city, shares artwork, tracks exactly where the trees are flowering and highlights some of the best spots to see them. The account has become a hub for residents, photographers and flower enthusiasts following the season.

In Dubai, even the trees have a following.

The flame tree isn’t only popular because of its bright red-orange blooms. Its wide canopy can spread up to 15 metres across, creating large patches of shade and helping reduce temperatures beneath it by as much as 5°C.

That cooling effect is one of the reasons the species became such a popular choice during Dubai’s early greening projects. Decades later, the trees continue to make streets, parks and residential areas more comfortable during the hottest months of the year.

What started as a greening initiative quickly grew into a city-wide cultural moment. As the bloom returned each summer, businesses began finding their own ways to celebrate the season.

Cafes introduced limited-edition flame tree drinks, gelato shops created themed desserts and beauty salons launched seasonal nail designs inspired by the tree’s signature red-orange colours.

The flame tree’s blooming season is surprisingly short. Peak flowering usually happens between May and July, when entire streets and neighbourhoods are covered in bright red-orange canopies.

Some of the best places to spot them include Jumeirah, Al Safa, Rashidiya, Deira, Bur Dubai, Safa Park and stretches of Jumeirah Street. Miss the season, and you’ll have to wait another year for the bloom to return.