UAE food delivery statistics: market size, apps, orders and riders

The short answer: delivery is now a large and growing part of the UAE restaurant business. Restaurant software firm Syrve reported that delivery made up 30.5% of all restaurant orders across its UAE network in the first half of 2026, up from 25.4% a year earlier. Market size estimates vary widely by research firm, so treat any single figure with caution.

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.

How big is the UAE food delivery market?

There is no single agreed number. Research firms define the market differently, and their estimates differ by a factor of two.

For planning, the direction matters more than the figure: every source we found forecasts growth of roughly 9% to 10% a year.

Delivery as a share of the restaurant business

The most useful recent data comes from Syrve, a restaurant software company, as reported by Khaleej Times. It covers restaurants on Syrve’s own network, not the whole market.

Sources: Khaleej Times, 20 July 2026 and Khaleej Times, 2 October 2026. The second report adds that a delivery order brings in roughly 30% less than a dine-in order, and that delivery’s share is fairly steady from Monday to Saturday while dine-in depends on the weekend.

An earlier Syrve report covering the UAE and Saudi Arabia together found that aggregator apps handled around 75% of restaurants’ mobile orders in the first half of 2025 (Khaleej Times, 4 August 2025).

Talabat in numbers

Talabat publishes group figures for its eight markets. It does not break out the UAE.

Other platforms

• Keeta: the international arm of Meituan launched in Dubai on 27 September 2025 (company release).
• Noon Food: launched with a stated charge of 15% of order value plus 2% for payment (Zawya, 2 February 2021). Under an April 2026 agreement with Dubai SME, member Emirati businesses get commission starting at 10% in year one, rising to 20% by year five (Dubai Media Office).
• Deliveroo and Careem Food: we found no published UAE-only order or partner counts.

What do the apps charge?

We found no current published rate card from Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem or Keeta. The figures usually quoted come from restaurant owners: in 2020, operators told Khaleej Times that aggregators charged 25% to 30%, and up to 35%, per order. Treat these as dated, restaurant-side claims, and check your own contract.

How often do people order?

In a YouGov survey for RoadSafetyUAE reported by Gulf News in January 2025, 63% of UAE respondents said they used motorcycle food delivery at least once a week, and 62% of delivery customers said they tip their riders. Most said a short delay would not bother them: 80% would accept a delivery two minutes late.

Riders and road rules

Counts of riders and bikes differ between sources because they measure different things (riders, registered bikes, delivery bikes).

What this means for a restaurant

• Delivery deserves its own plan. At around a third of orders, it is too big to treat as an afterthought.
• Protect the basket. Delivery tickets are lower than dine-in, so bundles, add-ons and drinks matter.
• The listing is your shop window. Photos, menu order and descriptions decide whether a visitor orders.
• Build direct channels too. Commissions make repeat customers who order from you directly more valuable.

We produce the photos, menu content and campaign creative for delivery listings. See delivery app marketing in Dubai, cloud kitchen marketing and our guide on how to rank higher on Talabat and Deliveroo.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the food delivery market in the UAE?

Estimates vary. IMARC Group values the UAE online food delivery market at USD 793.9 million in 2025, while Ken Research puts the food delivery apps market at USD 1.5 billion in 2025. Both are research firm estimates using different definitions.

What share of restaurant orders in the UAE are delivery?

Across restaurants using Syrve software, delivery was 30.5% of all orders in the first half of 2026, up from 25.4% a year earlier, as reported by Khaleej Times.

What is the average food delivery order value in the UAE?

Syrve network data reported by Khaleej Times put the average delivery ticket at Dh76.97 in the first half of 2026, compared with Dh115.81 for dine-in.

When did Keeta launch in Dubai?

Keeta, the international arm of Meituan, launched in Dubai on 27 September 2025.

How much commission do delivery apps charge in the UAE?

We found no current published rate cards. In 2020, restaurant owners told Khaleej Times that aggregators charged 25% to 30%, and up to 35%, per order. Check your own contract for current terms.

How many delivery riders are there in Dubai?

The RTA said in October 2025 that Dubai had about 65,000 delivery bike riders, a number that could reach 75,000 by the end of 2026.

Sources

1. Khaleej Times: UAE food delivery orders rise 15% in H1 (20 July 2026)
2. Khaleej Times: Delivery takes a bigger bite of the UAE restaurant business (2 October 2026)
3. Khaleej Times: Food delivery goes mobile (4 August 2025)
4. IMARC Group: UAE online food delivery market
5. Ken Research: UAE food delivery apps market
6. Talabat: intention to float on the DFM (11 November 2024)
7. Talabat: Q4 and full-year 2025 results (13 February 2026)
8. The National: Talabat trading debut (10 December 2024)
9. Keeta: Dubai launch (26 September 2025)
10. Zawya: noon launches food delivery (2 February 2021)
11. Dubai Media Office: Dubai SME partners with noon (21 April 2026)
12. Khaleej Times: commission rates by delivery apps (26 April 2020)
13. Gulf News: delivery rider survey (21 January 2025)
14. Dubai Media Office: delivery bike lane rules (19 October 2025)
15. Gulf News: RTA rider safety system (14 October 2025)
16. Khaleej Times: Dubai last-mile delivery (6 September 2026)