Choco-flowers

There are two kind of things one may expect never to find in the Gulf region, due to high temperatures and humidity : flowers and chocolates .
Nevertheless, these are quite fruitful businesses in each country .
When going by car or walking through the streets, one cannot but notice the beauty of flowers beds placed everywhere, specially during holidays celebrations .
It is mostly Asian workers being in charge of their cure , mainly in the early hours of the morning and late afternoons .
There are many flowers and plants shops, and if one wishes to send them as gift, it is possible to do .
It is slightly more difficult to deliver abroad, depending on the area one is living in, but mostly hotels help in this task .

Also chocolates have a huge market .
Most of them are from foreign producers, but actually also local ones are increasing .
I was reading about Oman's Salma's chocolates, but there are also others .
Nowadays each house or mall, let alone offices building, are equipped with AC, so it is not uncommon for families and individuals to indulge in such pleasures .
Sweets and cakes are very popular in coffee shops and cafeterias and many ladies are starting their home business with delivery .
Greatest part of the market is occupied by Arabic sweets, no alcohol in them, but huge quantities of sugar and syrup giving heavenly tastes .
As I said earlier, being Asian an important segment of the population, their cuisine can be found and appreciated everywhere .
So also cakes and sweets are part of their heritage in the Gulf .

Of course there is the other side of the coin, namely obesity .
When in a hot place, one doesn't have big meals, mainly salads, bread and legumes, but pastries and chocolates play a great role, specially in Ramadan .
So children start to be overweight at an early age, and older population suffers diabetes and cholesterol .
Doctors are starting to educate people .
For now anyway, the alternative is given by gyms, very popular among expats and locals of the young generation .