
GCC Online Food Delivery Market Research Report: Forecast (2024-2030)
GCC Online Food Delivery Market Report - By Service Type (Platform-to-Consumer, Restaurant-to-Consumer), By Cuisine (Local Arabic Cuisine, Indian Food, Continental, Others) By Busi...ness Model (Logistics Based, Full Service), By Food Type (Vegetarian, Non- Vegetarian, Others), By Food Buyer Nationality (Arabic, Indian, Pakistani, South East Asian, European, African, Others), By Size of the Order (Upto USD 30, USD31 to USD 50, Above USD 50), By Consumer Age Group (Upto 25 Years, 26 to 35 Years, 36 to 50 Years, Above 50 Years), By Platform, (Mobile Applications, Web-Based Platform), By Payment, (Cash on Delivery, Digital Payments), and Others Read more
- Food & Beverages
- Aug 2024
- 184
- PDF, Excel, PPT
Market Definition
Online food delivery is simply a service through which meals or groceries are sent from a restaurant or a store to the customer’s house or elsewhere. This eliminates the requirement for the customers to personally go to the restaurant or a store to eat or to order food.
Market Insights & Analysis: GCC Online Food Delivery Market (2024-30):
The GCC Online Food Delivery Market size in 2023 was valued at around USD 3.93 billion and is expected to reach around USD 11.18 billion by 2030. The market is also estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 14.48% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. The factors attributing to the surge in demand for online food delivery services are the increasing internet penetration & mobile phone accessibility, growing inclination towards order takeaway, and increasing working population.
Report Coverage | Details |
---|---|
Historical Years | 2019-22 |
Base Years
|
2023
|
Forecast Years
|
2024-30
|
Market Value in 2024 | USD 3.93 billion |
Market Value (2030) | USD 11.18 billion |
CAGR (2024-30) | 14.48% |
Top Key Players | Talabat, Deliveroo, Mrsool, Zomato, Carriage, Careem, HungerStation, Jahez, EatEasy, Noon Food, and others |
Key Report Highlights |
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Gulf countries, like the UAE, Qatar, etc., are witnessing a surge in internet penetration owing to the growing investments to upgrade the digital infrastructure. As per the World Bank, internet penetration in Saudi Arabia reached approximately 100% in 2021, an increase of about 5% compared to 2019. Similarly, other nations, such as UAE and Bahrain also have higher internet accessibility. Along with this, the majority of the population in these countries own a smartphone. Based on the statistics by the eMarketer, more than 91% of the total population owns a mobile phone, whereas in Saudi Arabia approximately 70% of the entire population uses the mobile phone. The higher mobile phone ownership & availability of the internet create a conducive environment for digital applications, such as food delivery services, supporting market growth.
Further, there is a surge in the expatriate population in these countries due to the growing job opportunities in these nations. As per the Government of the UAE, the expat population in the nation reached more than 11.06 million as of 2024 and the majority of the population is living in the country due to work-related reasons. These individuals stay away from their native nations and have trouble cooking dishes early before their working hours. Therefore, to ease the food problems for expatriate or foreign workers, several companies are opting for online corporate meal delivery. In these, the meals comprising breakfast, lunch, and evening snacks are directly delivered to the employees in the corporate offices. Moreover, the top companies are providing menu customization plans based on the employees’ preferences. Thus, more individuals are signing up for these online meal delivery services, enlarging the market size.
Additionally, several delivery aggregators like Deliveroo and Talabat in the GCC countries are partnering with small as well as large restaurants to provide consumers with a wide variety of food menus, including Chinese cuisine, Thai curry, continental dishes, etc. This strategy of providing localized services by partnering with more restaurants would continue to attract the mass population in the forthcoming years, supporting market growth & expansion.

GCC Online Food Delivery Market Driver:
Growing Workforce & Fast-Paced Life of the Individuals Uplifting the Demand for Food Delivery Services – In recent years, the working population, especially the women workforce has substantially increased. As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as of 2022, female participation in the GCC labor force has increased five times since 2010. The rise in female professionals is accentuating the demand for online food services since working women have little to no time to prepare a meal. Also, the cost of hiring a temporary or permanent chef is extremely expensive in the GCC country. According to the Popular recruitment agency, the cost of hiring a personal chef is around USD 108 to USD 136 daily. Therefore, individuals tend to order food online, augmenting market size & volume.
Further, POST-COVID-19, consumers have shifted towards online food delivery rather than eating in restaurants. As per the consumer survey conducted by the company Mad Mobile Inc., more than 66% of adults prefer to place orders online instead of eating them in restaurants & café. This transition of the consumers towards online food delivery would continue to enlarge the market size even during the forthcoming years.
GCC Online Food Delivery Market Challenge:
Stringent Regulations & Apprehension Regarding the Food Quality Hinders Market Growth – In GCC countries, the governments have laid strict regulations regarding the ingredients to be put in the food prepared by the restaurants. Additionally, the cloud kitchens that cook meals for the customers must adhere to the safety & hygiene protocol. However, incidents regarding the non-compliance of these safety protocols have been reported. In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) reported that two eateries in the country violated hygiene standards and were using dirty refrigerators & kitchen equipment. As a result, consumers have lost their trust in the hotels & restaurants and they refrain from ordering food online.
Moreover, since the food is prepared by the hotels and delivered at the location which might be a large distance. Therefore, the companies need to ensure that the temperature of the food remains the same. As a result, they use insulated bags, packages & containers. However, it most likely happens that the delivery for longer distances takes time and the food gets cold. Therefore, consumers prefer to either at restaurants or cook their meals at home, restraining the market growth.
Further, the majority of the customers in the GCC countries follow halal dietary practices and prefer to eat food prepared using halal-certified products. These individuals are concerned about the ingredients used by restaurants or cloud kitchens. Therefore, they highly prefer to cook food at home, hampering the market growth.
GCC Online Food Delivery Market Trend:
Increasing Adoption of AI & ML-Based Food Delivery Platforms to Support Market Growth – In recent years, the top companies in the Food Delivery Industry have integrated emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within their ecosystems. These technologies are helping companies to analyze the behavior of customers based on their food orders and the specific time or days on which the orders were placed. Based on these data, the market players are customizing their menus and offering the customers their favorite food packages with cash-back coupons, enriching the customer experience. For instance,
- In July 2024, Roofoods Ltd (Deliveroo) offered a voucher code that provides up to 50% off on every meal in the UAE.
Additionally, the integration of these technologies is also enhancing the overall food delivery services experience of the customers since the individuals can chat or make a call to either the restaurants or their delivery partner in case of any query. Along with this, they can track their order and tip the delivery partners for their excellent food delivery services. Further, the food delivery applications also include different online payment methods, making it easier for consumers to order food online and pay through digital channels. This incorporation of innovative features in online food delivery is improving the services and resulting in customer satisfaction, uplifting the market growth.
GCC Online Food Delivery Market (2024-30): Segmentation Analysis
The GCC Online Food Delivery Market study of MarkNtel Advisors evaluates & highlights the major trends and influencing factors in each segment. It includes predictions for the period 2024–2030 at the regional level. Based on the analysis, the market has been further classified as:
Based on Service Type:
- Platform-to-Consumer
- Restaurant-to-Consumer
Among them, the Platform-to-Consumer segment holds a dominant market share due to their ease of use and versatility in having multiple options in terms of restaurants and cuisines. These platforms provide food options from various hotels & restaurants to the customers, whereas the restaurant-specific online food delivery platforms only offer their restaurant-specific dishes. Along with this, customers can compare the food offered by different restaurants & cafes on these third-party platforms. Moreover, on these third-party food delivery platforms, individuals can relatively compare the reviews and the prices of the meals. Further, these platforms also offer variety, flexibility, and more support in case of any issue, making them a more favorable choice among the end-users.
Moreover, the restaurants & eateries only provide the delivery only to a limited distance. As a result, customers residing at relatively larger distances fail to order the meals from the restaurants-based online applications. Thus, they prefer to place their food orders from Platform-to-Consumer applications since they provide deliveries for larger distances as well, enhancing their market share.
Based on Payment:
- Digital Payments
- Cash on Delivery
Of them, the digital payments segment holds a substantial market share due to the increasing shift of consumers towards online payment services. Online payment offers consumers more flexibility and eradicates the issues of keeping the cash and change. Moreover, several food delivery platforms provide special cashback offers to consumers who make payments online, gaining the attention of several consumers. Moreover, online payment also allows the consumer to store the record of each & every transaction. As a result, the consumers keep track of their spending on meals and maintain their monthly expenditure.
Further, in a few Gulf countries, several online food delivery platforms do not accept cash payment and only prefer payments made via digital channels since are provide consumers with the best possible experience and do not require the rider or delivery partner to keep the cash, supporting the market growth & expansion.
GCC Online Food Delivery Market (2024-30): Regional Projections
Geographically, the Market expands across:
- The UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
Geographically, Saudi Arabia holds a prominent market share due to the increasing urban population in the country. Saudi Arabia has a relatively larger population than other Gulf countries. As per the World Bank, as of 2023, the nation has a population of around 36 million and of them, 16 million individuals are employed and working. The presence of more consumers in the country makes it a larger base in terms of growth for the top companies.
Further, the younger generation, especially genZ is spending more time on these mobile applications and is getting accustomed to the food services. As a result of this user cohort, the demand for online food delivery services is also witnessing growth in the country. Moreover, to expand more in the country, the companies, such as Jahez also introduced specific plans such as a subscription model for the Saudi population. This allows the users residing in the country to enjoy free delivery for selected restaurants for one month. These attractive offers by the companies as strategic plans are attracting the attention of consumers in Saudi Arabia, supporting market growth.
GCC Online Food Delivery Industry Recent Development:
- 2023: Deliveroo: Partnered with the UAE Food Bank to Reduce Food Waste, to further maintain the regulation regarding the UAE government's plan to reduce food wastage by 50% by 2030.
- 2023: Talabat: Unveiled a new AI-powered assistant that would provide customers with cooking tips, nutritional information, and suitable complimentary dishes to go with their meals.
Gain a Competitive Edge with Our GCC Online Food Delivery Market Report
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Report by MarkNtel Advisors provides a detailed & thorough analysis of market size & share, growth rate, competitive landscape, and key players. This comprehensive analysis helps businesses gain a holistic understanding of the market dynamics & make informed decisions.
- This report also highlights current market trends & future projections, allowing businesses to identify emerging opportunities & potential challenges. By understanding market forecasts, companies can align their strategies & stay ahead of the competition.
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Report aids in assessing & mitigating risks associated with entering or operating in the market. By understanding market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and potential challenges, businesses can develop strategies to minimize risks & optimize their operations.
*Reports Delivery Format - Market research studies from MarkNtel Advisors are offered in PDF, Excel and PowerPoint formats. Within 24 hours of the payment being successfully received, the report will be sent to your email address
Frequently Asked Questions
- Market Segmentation
- Introduction
- Product Definition
- Research Process
- Assumptions
- Executive Summary
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Trends & Development
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Dynamics
- Drivers
- Challenges
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Hotspots & Opportunities
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Regulations & Policy Standards
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Supply Chain Analysis
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type
- Platform-to-Consumer- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Restaurant-to-Consumer- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine
- Local Arabic Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Indian Food- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Continental - Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Others - Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model
- Logistics Based- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Full Service- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type
- Vegetarian - Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Non- Vegetarian - Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Others- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality
- Arabic- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Indian- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Pakistani- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- South East Asian- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- European- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- African- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Others- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order
- Upto USD 30- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- USD31 to USD 50- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Above USD 50- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group
- Upto 25 Years- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- 26 to 35 Years- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- 36 to 50 Years- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Above 50 Years- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform
- Mobile Applications- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Web-Based Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment
- Cash on Delivery- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Digital Payments- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Country
- The UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Oman
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- By Competitor
- Market Share & Analysis
- Competition Characteristics
- By Service Type
- Market Size & Analysis
- The UAE Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- Saudi Arabia Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- Qatar Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- Oman Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- Kuwait Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- Bahrain Online Food Delivery Market Outlook, 2019-2030F
- Market Size & Analysis
- By Revenues (USD Million)
- Market Share & Analysis
- By Service Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Cuisine- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Business Model- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Type- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Food Buyer Nationality- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Size of the Order- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Consumer Age Group- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Platform- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- By Payment- Market Size & Forecast 2019-2030F, USD Million
- Market Size & Analysis
- GCC Online Food Delivery Market Key Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth
- Competitive Outlook
- Company Profiles
- Talabat
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Deliveroo
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Mrsool
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Zomato
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Carriage
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Careem
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- HungerStation
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Jahez
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- EatEasy
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Noon Food
- Business Description
- Product Portfolio
- Strategic Alliances or Partnerships
- Recent Developments
- Financial Details
- Others
- Others
- Talabat
- Company Profiles
- Disclaimer
