Creating a food delivery service app akin to Talabat online

Creating a food delivery service app akin to Talabat online

The online food delivery market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is poised for significant growth in the coming years, according to industry forecasts. The overall UAE e-commerce market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 12.39% from 2024 to 2030, reaching a staggering USD 20.54 billion by 2030 [1]. A substantial portion of this market involves direct-to-consumer (B2C) sales, including the online food delivery segment.

The food market revenue in the UAE was estimated at around USD 39.75 billion in 2025, with an expected CAGR of 5.28% for 2025 to 2030 [3]. This growth is driven by changing consumer preferences towards convenience and healthier options, as well as the dominance of mobile commerce, with 79% of e-commerce sales in 2024 occurring via smartphones [1].

One of the key players in the MENA region's online food delivery market is Talabat, which boasted over 6 million active customers, 65,000 active partners, and 119,000 active riders in September 2024 [2]. Talabat's strategic moves, such as the acquisition of Instashop for USD 32 million in March 2025, indicate its dominant role and expansion ambitions in the region's quick-commerce and online food delivery space [1].

To create a successful food delivery service, it is essential to understand market dynamics, leverage the latest technologies, and provide features like order tracking, real image support, customer assistance, billing options, GPS tracker, chat system, frequent reward deliveries, registration of restaurant partners, and multiple payment systems.

The cost to develop a food delivery app like Talabat can vary significantly, with factors such as chosen features, development platforms, and location of the development partner influencing the final cost. On average, the development cost can range from $15,000 to $40,000.

The architecture of a food delivery app should be designed to facilitate customers, delivery partners, and restaurant partners, and be user-friendly from all perspectives. Key technologies required for the frontend, backend, database, API integration, analytics, authentication, and push notifications include Swift, Kotlin, Node.js, Java, Python, SQLite, MySQL, MongoDB, GraphQL, RESTful APIs, Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics, OAuth, JWT, Apple Push Notification Service, Firebase Cloud Messaging, Git, GitHub, Bitbucket, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store.

To differentiate a food delivery app and ensure it offers more than the standard features seen in existing platforms, innovative approaches and the integration of advanced technology like AI can be used. For instance, AI can be employed to personalize recommendations, predict analytics, automate customer support, integrate voice-activated orders, enhance security, and provide deep insights into customer preferences.

ReactNative and Flutter frameworks are suitable options for creating the application, as they are scalable and flexible for cross-platform applications. To develop a food delivery app like Talabat, follow these steps: conduct market research, define your niche, prepare a business model, plan a revenue strategy, put a team together, approach developers, build an MVP, run a test trial, and launch the final product.

The online food delivery market in the UAE is forecasted to experience substantial growth from 2024 to 2028, with the market volume projected to reach $1,351 million by 2029, growing at an annual rate of 3.53% between 2025 and 2029 [3]. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is predicted to rise to $645.26 by 2028, representing a 45.24% increase from the 2025 ARPU of $201 [3].

In conclusion, the online food delivery market in the UAE presents a vibrant growth opportunity from 2024 to 2028 and beyond, with Talabat remaining a dominant player in the region. Developing a food delivery app like Talabat requires careful planning, market research, and the integration of cutting-edge technology to ensure success in this rapidly evolving market.

References: [1] Statista (2025). Online Food Delivery Market in the United Arab Emirates. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/1083/online-food-delivery-in-the-united-arab-emirates/ [2] Appinventiv (2025). Talabat: A Dominant Food Delivery App in the Middle East. Retrieved from https://www.appinventiv.com/blog/talabat-a-dominant-food-delivery-app-in-the-middle-east/ [3] Grand View Research (2025). Online Food Delivery Market Size, Share & Trends - Global Report and Forecast 2021-2028. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/online-food-delivery-market

1. As the online food delivery market in the UAE continues to grow, investors might consider significant opportunities in this sector for potential returns.
2. To stay competitive in the UAE's food-and-drink industry, it is important for businesses to embrace technology, such as AI and mobile commerce, to cater to a lifestyle that values convenience and healthier options.
3. A well-designed food delivery app, emulating the success of Talabat, would involve understanding market dynamics, offering innovative features, and implementing an architecture supported by modern technologies like Swift, Kotlin, Node.js, and AI.

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