Real Christmas tree delivered in 3 minutes

Dubai - Uber customers got the chance to request the UberTREES option via the mobile application.

Christmas came early in the Yehia household at 2.03pm on Sunday, as a 2.5-metre Nova Scotia-imported Christmas tree took up residence in Aref Yehia's lounge - just three minutes after he ordered it.
Yehia was one of many Dubai residents filled with Christmas cheer at the start of the working week as three trucks filled with the impressive green trees made their way around the city.
Following last year's huge success, the annual UberTREES tradition was back with a bang this year, with three times the number of trees in tow.
Between 2pm to 8pm on Sunday, Uber customers got the chance to request the UberTREES option via the mobile application. And if your timing was right, a tree and stand were delivered to your front door within minutes.
Khaleej Times' reporter joined Uber's little helpers on the day and helped hand deliver the first of the trees to its first batch of customers.
"I literally clicked on the app at 2pm and within three minutes you guys turned up," lucky customer number one, Yehia, said.
Fresh back to Dubai after a trip to the UK, Yehia said the London Christmas lights really got him in the "festive mood" which is what spurred him on to try his luck on the app. "A friend actually told me to try Uber, so this was my first time. Just the smell of the tree is already getting me in the Christmas spirit," he said.
Following the delivery, Yehia tweeted a pic of the tree saying: "@Uber_UAE Thanks Uber for delivering #UberTreeDXB within minutes ... it smells like Christmas".
For the second year in a row, Uber partnered with Oleander to deliver the fresh, real trees to Dubai residents' doors for 50 per cent of the original Dh600 price tag.
UK-born Sarah Vela was another lucky user. Speaking from her home on the Palm Jumeirah, Vela and her two children, Ruby and Rocco, were delighted to see the Uber team turn up at the front door with a tree in tow.
"I tried the app a few times this morning after my husband told me to give it a go. I think everyone was on it at once because who doesn't want a real Christmas tree this time of year," she said.
And after several attempts, Vela timed her order just right and received her tree within 20 minutes.
"It smells just wonderful. We always get a real tree every year, but this is a fantastic fuss-free option ... and what a fantastic price, too."
In the spirit of the season, Uber also gave away free trees to five lucky winners, including British expatriate, Elizabeth.
A newcomer to Dubai, Elizabeth's six-year-old daughter is spending her first Christmas away from home, and though she was feeling homesick, the Christmas tree delivery was the perfect remedy, she said.
With such high demand on the day, not all customers had the chance to get their hands on a tree, so Uber is now offering a 50 per cent discount on their next taxi journey as well as a 10 per cent discount on all trees at Oleander.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE