The short answer: the apps reward restaurants that customers are likely to order from and that fulfil orders reliably. Deliveroo says so openly: position is personalised, and is also influenced by customer ratings, preparation times, delivery times, rejected orders and opening hours. Talabat does not publish a ranking formula, but its restaurant terms set strict operating standards. So the route to better visibility is mostly operational: accept quickly, prepare on time, keep ratings high, and present the menu well.
Figures were checked on 13 November 2026 and will change. Where a number comes from a market research firm it is labelled as an estimate, and where sources disagree we show both.
Key points
- Deliveroo lists five factors that influence position: ratings, prep times, delivery times, rejected orders and opening hours.
- Deliveroo says sites with menu photos can boost orders by 25%.
- Talabat’s UAE terms require orders to be confirmed within three minutes.
- Offers, meal deals and paid adverts increase the chance of being featured.
- Talabat and Noon Food publish no official ranking guidance that we could find.
What Deliveroo says affects your position
Deliveroo’s partner help centre explains that restaurants appear higher for customers who are more likely to order from them, and that position is also influenced by the factors below (Deliveroo Help Centre). The help centre is global, not UAE-specific.
| Factor | What Deliveroo says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Customer ratings | Ratings can affect your position in the app | Deliver on time, use good packaging, avoid missing or wrong items |
| Preparation time | A shorter estimated order duration gives a better chance of appearing higher | Set realistic prep times and meet them |
| Rejected orders | Unaccepted orders are auto-rejected within 10 minutes | Keep opening hours correct and use busy mode when needed |
| Opening hours | Listed as an influence on position | Stay open when you say you are |
| Photos | Sites with menu photos can boost orders by 25% | Photograph every item |
Sources: Deliveroo on increasing visibility, prep times and avoiding rejected orders. The 25% figure is Deliveroo’s own claim.
Getting featured and using adverts on Deliveroo
Deliveroo says the chance of appearing in a carousel improves when you run Adverts or Offers in Partner Hub, add Meal Deals, maintain strong ratings and prep performance, and price competitively. Its advertising product is called Marketer Adverts, which places sponsored listings on the home feed, in category lists and in search.
Access to Marketer depends on performance. Deliveroo lists thresholds of rejections below 8%, a star rating of 3.8 or higher, and late-prepared orders below 22% (Deliveroo Help Centre). In other words, you have to run well before you can pay to be seen.
What Talabat publishes
We could not find official Talabat guidance on ranking. Its UAE restaurant terms and conditions do set operating standards, and falling short can lead to temporary suspension:
| Standard in Talabat’s UAE terms | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Confirming an order | Within three minutes of receiving it |
| Cancellations caused by the restaurant | Not over 3% in seven consecutive days |
| Average order response time | Not over three minutes |
| Average handover time to the driver | Not over five minutes |
The terms also require accurate menu descriptions and photographs, and competitive prices on the platform. These are grounds for suspension, not a ranking formula, but they show what Talabat measures.
What Careem publishes
Careem’s UAE food partner FAQs say that delays can lead to bad ratings and reduced orders, that flat discounts can be added in the vendor portal, and that it offers paid partner banners on the food page that change weekly. For visibility questions it refers partners to their account manager.
Official photo requirements
| App | Cover or hero image | Item image | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | At least 1920 x 1080 pixels, landscape | At least 1200 x 675 pixels, landscape, JPEG, up to 8MB | Deliveroo Help Centre |
| Careem | Minimum 1MB, 1125 x 780 pixels, JPG | Minimum 1MB, 1200 x 1200 pixels, JPG | Careem food partner FAQs |
Deliveroo also states that AI-generated images are not permitted, and that stock images, hands, faces, text, watermarks and collages are not accepted. We could not open official image specifications for Talabat or Noon Food; check your partner portal. See our fuller guide to delivery app photo requirements in the UAE.
A practical checklist
- Accept fast. Keep the tablet staffed and loud.
- Set honest prep times, then beat them.
- Keep hours accurate, including Ramadan and holidays.
- Mark items unavailable before they run out, to avoid rejections.
- Photograph every item, to the app’s specification.
- Lead with best sellers and add meal deals.
- Pack properly. Spills and missing items are what low ratings are made of.
- Reply to reviews and fix what they mention.
- Use offers and adverts once the basics are right, and measure the result.
Where we can help
We cannot change how the apps rank you, and no agency can. We can improve what customers see: item and cover photography, menu structure and descriptions, bundles and packaging. See delivery app marketing in Dubai, delivery-app menu photography and our UAE food delivery statistics.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rank higher on Deliveroo?
Deliveroo says position is personalised and also influenced by customer ratings, preparation times, delivery times, rejected orders and opening hours. Keep ratings high, prepare on time, avoid rejections, keep hours accurate and add photos to every item.
How do I rank higher on Talabat?
Talabat does not publish a ranking formula that we could find. Its UAE restaurant terms require orders to be confirmed within three minutes and set limits on cancellations and handover times, so reliable operations, accurate menus and good photos are the safest route.
Do photos increase delivery orders?
Deliveroo states that sites with menu photos can boost their orders by 25%. That is Deliveroo's own figure; compare your own dashboard before and after adding photos.
What is Deliveroo Marketer?
Marketer is Deliveroo's promotional tool for restaurant partners. It includes Adverts, which place sponsored listings in the app, and Offers. Access depends on meeting performance thresholds.
What size should Deliveroo menu photos be?
Deliveroo asks for item images of at least 1200 x 675 pixels in landscape JPEG format, up to 8MB, and a hero image of at least 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Can an agency guarantee a higher ranking on delivery apps?
No. The apps control their own ranking. An agency can improve what customers see, such as photos, menu structure and packaging, which affects whether visitors order.
Sources
- Deliveroo Help Centre: how the restaurant lists work
- Deliveroo Help Centre: how to increase your visibility
- Deliveroo Help Centre: how prep times work
- Deliveroo Help Centre: access to Marketer Adverts and Offers
- Deliveroo Help Centre: how to avoid rejecting orders
- Deliveroo Help Centre: uploading your own photos
- Talabat: restaurant terms and conditions (UAE)
- Careem: food partner FAQs (UAE)
Disclaimer: This article shares general guidance based on Food On Focus Media's experience as a Dubai F&B creative agency. It is for information only and is not a substitute for advice tailored to your specific brand, menu or market.
