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Food delivery services have taken over the world, especially in the lively and thriving dining culture of the UAE. From 2023 to 2030, the global food delivery sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%, from its 2022 valuation of USD 221.65 billion. As the food delivery market keeps on thriving, restaurant owners keep finding ways to enter this lucrative market.
With its fast-paced lifestyle and diverse population, the UAE is the hub of some of the most popular food delivery apps. There are several reasons behind the success of their growth, but the most growth-influencing factors include the increase in popularity of online food ordering, the increasing quantity of restaurants in Dubai, and the rise in the disposable income of residents.
These applications offer more convenient ways for users to order food from their favorite restaurants, whether for a quick snack at the office or a comforting dinner at home. For business and restaurant owners, understanding the strengths, features, and functionalities is critical to selecting the right partner.
Today, in this guide, we will explore the best food delivery apps in UAE and other important aspects associated with them to help you make more informed decisions for your business.
What’s special about the Talabat food delivery app?
Ever since its foundation in 2004 in Kuwait, Talabat Food Delivery App development company has been a major player in the online meal delivery industry. Since 2016, Talabat has been a part of Delivery Hero, and by 2021, it has become one of the Middle East’s top online food ordering services. According to the latest industry report made by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Talabat owns 76% of the food delivery market sector., making it one of the top food delivery apps in the UAE.
Talabat has solidified its rank as the leading food delivery app in the UAE by securing a 3.7-star rating and over 1 crore downloads on the Google Play Store. Businesses and restaurants can gain significant benefits from teaming up with Talabat, including easy access to a wide range of customers and a well-developed delivery infrastructure. The app is designed with the goal of providing seamless navigation, which makes it easy for customers to browse menus, place orders, and track real-time delivery. Talabat’s services go beyond food; it also offers grocery delivery services, increasing its value and making it a popular choice among UAE’s consumers.
UAE Food Delivery Apps like Talabat: Detailed Market Stats
The UAE food market consists of various high-state companies, including KFC, Talabat, other restaurants, and international brands. The revenue of the online food delivery market is expected to reach US$1.20tn in 2024, and by 2025, the e-services market revenue in the UAE is expected to reach around 247 million U.S. dollars, almost quadrupling the value since 2020. Experts estimated that CAGR would grow at a rate of 9.04% from 2024 to 2029, resulting in an estimated market volume of US$1.85 trillion by 2029.
The market provides a lucrative opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs who are new to this business, starting from the most spartan amenities and understanding of the market. The food delivery market offers various opportunities for your company if you are a newbie starting up your business from scratch.
Talabat Alternatives in 2024: UAE’s Top 12 Food Delivery Services.
The food delivery landscape in the UAE keeps on thriving in 2024, due to the increasing trend of ordering food online. This escalation gives way to various apps wanting to compete with Talabat by offering similar services and features. Here we present a list of 12 top Talabat alternatives that residents can consider.
1. Deliveroo Food Delivery App
Deliveroo is a British-based online food delivery app, established in 2013, in London, England. This Talabat alternative has branches in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, France, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and more. The app generated a yearly revenue of £2.03 billion in 2023 alone. The company has a tie-up with 182,000 restaurants and cafes, grocers, and retailers. According to the company reports of August 2024, they found an increase in revenue collection of up to £1.3 million from January to July.
Deliveroo earned its reputation for providing quick delivery service and extensive restaurant options to choose from. It covers a wide range of cuisines and offers features like real-time tracking and various payment methods. Deliveroo is a popular choice among users in the UAE, cornering a 4.6-star rating and 10M+ downloads on the Google Play Store.
2. Zomato Food Delivery App
Zomato is a well-known name in the online food delivery industry. It was first introduced as Foodiebay in 2008 in India but renamed as Zomato in 2010. Even though its services and operations in the UAE have been included in Talabat, it still is one of the most unique platforms for food delivery, restaurant discovery, and trustable customer reviews, which offers valuable insight to users looking for unique and diverse dining options.
The app has witnessed an increase of US$1.5 billion in yearly revenue in 2024. Zomato has so far gathered 4.5-star ratings and 100 million downloads on the Google Play store, and its popularity among users keeps on increasing with unbeatable services and reliable restaurant ratings.
3. EatEasy Food Ordering App
EatEasy is an office mobile application introduced by EatEasy.ae, one of the top-rated food and grocery ordering websites and mobile apps. It was launched in 2013 in the UAE, and since then, it’s been causing a ruckus in the UAE’s food delivery industry by partnering with 10,000+ restaurants. They operate in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ajman, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. EatEasy is available on both the App Store and Play Store with a 3.3-star rating and 100k+ downloads.
Unlike other Talabat alternatives, this Food Ordering App offers exciting discounts, offers, and promotions from various diners and restaurants, with cashback on every order to get free food from different diners. The app also incorporates a live chat feature with their support team in case customers face any issues with orders.
4. Careem Now Food Delivery App
Careem Now deserves a spot on our list of food delivery apps in the UAE. This Dubai-based super app was established in 2012, and since then it’s been providing a seamless food delivery experience with real-time tracking and over 9,000 restaurant options to choose from. It is one of the best food delivery companies and is widely known for having the most intuitive UI and frequent promotions.
They are active in 70+ cities, covering 10 countries all over the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia Regions. Creem Now is soaring in popularity as projected in the ratings of the Google Play Store (4.4 stars, 5+ downloads) and App Store (4.6-star ratings).
5. Noon Food e-commerce platform.
Noon Food is a UAE-based e-commerce platform launched on December 12th, 2017. It is one of the best Talabat food delivery app alternatives, providing services in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The app covers all your shopping needs, including mobiles, appliances, fast food delivery, fashion, electronics, grocery essentials, and more.
The app earned its reputation by offering big discounts on first orders. The app includes amazing features and functionalities like “good moving mode” for early deliveries and 24/7 customer support for user satisfaction. Noon Food prioritizes partnering with local restaurants, promoting local cuisines, and offering these local restaurants tools and resources to grow and thrive within the app’s ecosystem.
6. EatStreet Food Delivery App
Eatstreet is one of the Best Talabat alternatives for online food delivery. This US-based platform was launched in 2010. It is one of the most preferred apps, with 500k downloads on the app store. Though it mainly operates in the US (250 cities with 15,000 restaurants), it’s also expanding its reach to other countries, including the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. The app mainly prioritizes local restaurants and diners and offers a straightforward online ordering process.
While it may not be a widely known fact, EatStreet also serves niche markets with specific cuisine offerings. It has gained a lot of loyal customers by incorporating features like real-time tracking, 24/7 customer support, a wide range of restaurant options, and more. Not only that, but the app also offers a variety of payment methods for food pickup or delivery and even lets customers split bills for group meal deliveries.
7. Kibsons Food Delivery App
Kibsons food delivery app is a known name in the UAE’s market. This UAE-based food delivery app was introduced in 1980 in the Emirate of Dubai. This app is quite popular, with 4.6 ratings and 1L+ downloads on the Google Play Store. As of now, the app generates a yearly income of $163.4M per year. Gibson has been making waves since its establishment, providing fresh produce (fruits, veggies, pantry essentials) and grocery needs along with food delivery from local eateries and restaurants.
With Kinsons, you can order food from your favorite restaurants and have it delivered to your home in less time. From keto to vegan to eco-friendly produce, Kibsons has all your needs covered to keep your kitchen pantry stocked with yummy and healthy goods.
8. InstaShop Meal Delivery App
Instashop, founded on August 27, 2020, remains a strong contender in the UAE’s food delivery market. It operates in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. As one of the best Talabat alternatives for food delivery, it offers you a hassle-free online ordering experience by bringing all the local supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, pharmacies, pet shops, and more to your phone screen.
Later, the app was acquired by Delivery Hero for $360 million. The app currently has a 3.9-star rating on the Google Play Store and an app store with 10L+ downloads. InstaShop offers a wide variety of cuisines and reliable delivery options, and some of its promotions include free delivery, which will help save money on orders.
9. Cari Food Delivery App
Cari. Founded in October 2022, it is becoming widely popular as a homegrown food delivery app, especially among users who prioritize local options and a quick, reliable service. With 4.4 ratings and 100K downloads on the Google Play Store and 4.6 ratings on the App Store, it is one of the best alternatives for food delivery apps like Talabat.
The platform prioritizes partnering closely with local restaurants, offering an impressive variety of cuisines that cater to diverse tastes in the community. Whether you want hot meals or need grocery items, flowers, medicine, or pet care essentials, Cari will bring it all to your doorstep in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia.
10. Smiles Food Delivery App
Smiles is another one of similar food delivery apps like Talabet. It was first introduced in February 2021 in the UAE. It has partnered with 3000+ restaurants, cafes, eateries, and theme parks across the UAE. It also provides rewards and offers (e.g., buy 1 get 1 free) for frequent customers and on first orders. The Smile food delivery app allows customers to earn points on their orders that users can redeem later.
These offers and loyalty programs enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. The app became popular among locals, making it reach a 4.4-star rating on the Google Play store with 1 million downloads.
11. MyEatPal Food Delivery App
MyEatPal is a UAE-based food delivery app, established in the year 2020 by Amgad Mohamed Zaki, Amr Kinawy, and one other. This platform is designed for health-conscious consumers who are seeking healthy meal options and restaurants. The app offers personalized recommendations that suit users’ dietary preferences, lifestyle goals, and past order history.
The app became popular due to its health-conscious approach, helping it achieve 500+ downloads on the Google Play store. The platform offers AI-based personal recommendations for allergy-friendly restaurants and allows users to order from their favorite restaurant according to their dietary preferences.
12. Mrcool Food Delivery App
Mrcool is an amazing food delivery app like Talabat. It was established in 2015 in Saudi Arabia. As a leading force in the on-demand delivery sector, it operates on a unique model that lets users order food and groceries from any restaurant, even if the restaurant is not partnered with the app, by connecting them with local couriers.
In early 2019, the app reportedly has a gross merchandise value (GMV) that exceeds 1 billion riyals. The platform has already gained significant traction, serving over 4 million users across the UAE. On the Play Store, it has received a 3.9-star rating and 10 million+ downloads, making it one of the best apps available in the market.
These popular food delivery applications in the UAE provide diverse options catering to different tastes, preferences, and needs in the UAE’s vibrant food delivery market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the details above highlight the top food delivery apps in the UAE that offer excellent alternatives to Talabat. Whether you’re looking for local cuisine, a range of international options, or health-conscious meal delivery, these apps provide convenience, variety, and reliability for ordering food across the UAE.
If you’re seeking an easy and hassle-free way to enjoy your favorite meals, exploring one of the above-listed food delivery apps could be a great option. If you are a business looking for food delivery app development services, then contact a reputable mobile app development company like Helpful Insight. Contact our experts for a free demo, and stay tuned for more informative updates.
FAQs
What are the best alternatives to Talabat for food delivery in the UAE?
Several excellent options include Deliveroo, Zomato, Uber Eats, and Careem NOW, each offering a variety of cuisines and convenient delivery across the UAE.
Do these food delivery apps offer different cuisines and dietary options?
Yes, most of the popular food delivery apps in the UAE offer a wide range of cuisines, including options for vegan, keto, and gluten-free diets, making it easy to find meals that suit different dietary needs.
Are there any discounts or loyalty programs on these apps?
Many apps, such as Deliveroo and Zomato, offer discounts, loyalty points, and special promotions for frequent users. Checking each app’s offers section can help you find deals.
Which app is best for fast delivery in the UAE?
Delivery times can vary, but apps like Deliveroo and Uber Eats are often praised for their quick delivery services. However, delivery times may depend on location, restaurant, and order volume.
