UAE Food Delivery Statistics 2026: Market Size, Apps & Consumer Habits

Last updated: 26 October 2026 · By the Upscale Media team, Dubai

Food delivery is now part of everyday life in the UAE. Most residents order at least once a week, the biggest platforms are growing at double-digit rates, and regulators have started to step in on how apps treat restaurants. For restaurant owners, delivery is both a major revenue channel and a major cost.

Below are the latest verified UAE food delivery statistics, with every figure linked to its source, plus what they mean for your restaurant’s marketing.

UAE Food Delivery Statistics at a Glance

Metric	Figure	Source
UAE online food delivery market (2024)	US$2.5 billion	Syrve MENA via Arabian Business
Projected market size (2030)	US$3.9 billion	Syrve MENA via Arabian Business
UAE residents ordering at least weekly	61.4%	UserQ survey of 500 residents (2025)
Residents ordering daily	9.4%	UserQ (2025)
Most-used app	Talabat, 35% of respondents	UserQ (2025)
Talabat group GMV growth (FY 2025)	28%	Talabat results via TradeArabia (2026)
Talabat group revenue (FY 2025)	US$3.9 billion	Talabat results via TradeArabia (2026)
Burgers ordered on Talabat in the UAE (2025)	47 million+	Gulf News (2025)
Share of delivery orders via aggregators	About three-quarters	Syrve MENA via Arabian Business
Mobile share of delivery transactions (MENA)	About 70%	Syrve MENA via Arabian Business

How Big Is the UAE Food Delivery Market?

The UAE online food delivery market was worth an estimated US$2.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$3.9 billion by 2030, according to data from Syrve MENA reported by Arabian Business. Mobile ordering accounts for roughly 70% of delivery transactions across the Middle East and North Africa, and mobile-based dining grew 30% year on year.

The wider foodservice context matters too. UAE food e-commerce retail sales reached US$1.1 billion in 2024, according to the USDA, and the agency expects online ordering to remain a long-term trend.

How Often Do UAE Residents Order Food Delivery?

A 2025 UserQ survey of 500 UAE residents found:

• 61.4% order food delivery at least once a week.
• 9.4% order every day.

Dubai’s own research shows how central delivery has become: food delivery accounted for 87% of residents’ online purchases in winter 2023, and visitors used delivery apps an average of 2.7 times during a stay (Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report).

Which Food Delivery Apps Are Most Popular in the UAE?

Respondents to the UserQ survey named these as their most-used apps:

App	Share of respondents
Talabat	35.0%
Noon Food	31.6%
Careem Food	11.8%
Deliveroo	8.6%
Smiles	8.4%

Keeta also entered the UAE market in 2025, according to the USDA, adding further competition between platforms.

What Matters Most to UAE Delivery Customers?

When asked for the single most important factor in choosing where to order, UAE residents said:

1. Delivery speed (22.0%)
2. Discounts or promotions (19.2%)
3. Lowest delivery fees or prices (14.2%)
4. Ease of use (9.6%)
5. Wide restaurant selection (8.2%)
6. Brand trust (6.0%)
7. Loyalty or subscription programmes (5.6%)

Source: UserQ, UAE food delivery habits survey (2025).

Speed and value dominate. That means operational excellence (fast prep, accurate orders) and smart promotions win more orders than branding alone.

What UAE Diners Order Most

• More than 47 million burgers were ordered on Talabat across the UAE in 2025.
• The mini cheese pizza was Talabat’s most ordered food item, with over 1.3 million orders.
• Iced Americano was the most ordered drink, with matcha lattes close behind.
• Careem delivered more than 1.6 million burgers, about 4,400 a day.

Source: Gulf News, based on data released by talabat, noon and Careem (December 2025).

Talabat’s Growth in Numbers

Talabat, the region’s largest platform, reported for the full year 2025:

• 28% growth in gross merchandise value (GMV) at constant currency.
• Revenue of US$3.9 billion, up 33%.
• Guidance of 11% to 14% GMV growth for 2026.

Source: Talabat FY 2025 results via TradeArabia (February 2026). Figures cover all Talabat markets, not only the UAE.

Commissions and Regulation: The Restaurant Side

Delivery platforms typically take a commission on every order and may add marketing, processing and service fees. The USDA notes that rising delivery fees and aggregator commissions are putting pressure on restaurant margins in the UAE.

In September 2025, the UAE issued a circular on food delivery platforms requiring transparency in how algorithms display listings, prohibiting arbitrary price changes, and barring platforms from passing subscription prices on to restaurants (AGBI).

What This Means for Your Restaurant

1. Win on the app, but don’t depend on it. Aggregators handle most delivery orders, so your listing, photos and ratings need to be excellent. But every order through an app costs you a commission.
2. Build direct demand. Social media, Google Maps and your own ordering link let customers find and order from you directly. Our restaurant social media management is built around this.
3. Compete on speed and value. Since these are the top two reasons people choose, promote fast delivery times and well-designed bundles rather than blanket discounts.
4. Use food photography that sells. On a delivery app, the photo is the menu. Professional restaurant content creation pays for itself in conversion.
5. Collect reviews everywhere. Ratings on apps and on Google influence both ranking and choice.

For the full market picture, see our Dubai restaurant industry statistics and our guide to cloud kitchens in the UAE.

Related reading: UAE cloud kitchen market · How Dubai restaurants can win tourist diners · Dubai restaurant industry statistics

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the UAE food delivery market?

The UAE online food delivery market was valued at about US$2.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$3.9 billion by 2030.

What is the most popular food delivery app in the UAE?

Talabat was the most-used app in a 2025 survey of 500 UAE residents (35%), followed by Noon Food (31.6%) and Careem Food (11.8%).

How often do people in the UAE order food delivery?

61.4% of UAE residents order food delivery at least once a week, and 9.4% order every day, according to a 2025 UserQ survey.

What do UAE customers care about most when ordering delivery?

Delivery speed (22%) and discounts or promotions (19.2%) were the top factors, followed by low delivery fees or prices (14.2%).

Are food delivery apps regulated in the UAE?

Yes. A September 2025 circular requires platforms to be transparent about how listings are displayed, prohibits arbitrary price changes and bars them from passing subscription prices on to restaurants.

Grow Your Delivery Orders With Upscale Media

Upscale Media is a Dubai restaurant marketing agency trusted by 100+ F&B brands since 2022. We help restaurants and cloud kitchens grow delivery and dine-in orders through social media, paid ads, SEO and content. Talk to our team.

📍 Find Upscale Media on Google Maps and read what our F&B clients say about working with us.

Sources

• Arabian Business: UAE online food delivery market to reach US$3.9bn by 2030
• UserQ: UAE food delivery habits in 2025, what 500 residents told us (October 2025)
• TradeArabia: Talabat posts 28% GMV growth in 2025 (February 2026)
• Gulf News: What people ordered online in the UAE in 2025 (December 2025)
• AGBI: Gulf watchdogs get tough with food delivery companies (February 2026)
• USDA FAS: Food Service – Hotel Restaurant Institutional Annual, UAE (December 2025)
• Dubai DET: Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report (December 2023)