Gevorg Papoyan’s statement is misleading: flowers from Armenia were exported to UAE before

On July 19, Gevorg Papoyan, Armenia’s Minister of Economy, wrote on his Facebook that “Armenian flowers have entered the UAE market, particularly in Dubai.”

The phrase “Armenian flowers have entered the UAE market” could give readers the impression that this is the first export to that country. Comments from users under the social media post also point to this.

The minister’s post also spread widely across media and social networks: it was published by more than a dozen websites and received over 2,000 likes and more than 120 reposts. In all the comments, citizens asked whether this was indeed the first instance of flower exports from Armenia to the UAE.

The fact-checking platform examined official statistics on flower exports from Armenia and found that flower exports to the UAE had also been recorded in previous years.

The most recent export figures: January-March 2026

According to foreign trade statistics from the RA State Revenue Committee, exports of the cut flowers and flower buds product group from Armenia to the UAE are recorded in two units of measurement: kilograms/tons and units.

According to the latest available statistical data, in January-March 2026, 903 kg of flowers worth $12,500 were exported, along with 110,600 units worth $71,200.

According to official statistics, export volumes of cut flowers and flower buds from Armenia have fluctuated significantly in recent years. In 2025, 210 kg of cut flowers and flower buds worth $3,100 were exported to the UAE, along with 279,300 units worth $190,200.