Food delivery goes mobile: 30% growth in UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2025

There’s a quiet revolution happening across kitchens in the UAE and Saudi Arabia — and it’s not just in restaurants, but on the phones of millions of hungry consumers. Whether it's a sizzling kebab for brunch or a late-night butter chicken craving, more people are choosing to tap and order than ever before. Gone are the days of calling in orders or waiting in queues. Today’s diners prefer the ease of a few clicks, and restaurants are racing to keep up.

In the first half of 2025, mobile food delivery orders in both countries surged by a staggering 30% year-over-year, according to fresh data from Syrve MENA, a leading restaurant software provider. The findings reflect a broader shift in how the region eats: convenience-first, mobile-centric, and increasingly digital.

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Food Aggregators Rule the Menu

The report reveals that food aggregators — apps like Talabat, Deliveroo, and HungerStation — now dominate the mobile ordering landscape, handling around 75% of all restaurant mobile orders. The remaining 25% is fulfilled via call centres, websites, or proprietary restaurant apps, largely favoured by larger chains that want tighter control over the customer journey.

And it’s all happening on our smartphones. Over 70% of food delivery transactions are now completed on mobile devices, confirming that food is no longer just about taste — it’s about tech, too.

When and What We Eat is Changing Too

Syrve’s data also reveals intriguing patterns in consumer behaviour throughout the year. March 2025 saw a notable spike in orders, coinciding with Ramadan — a season known for post-sunset feasting. Another wave is expected during the summer months, from June through September, when sweltering temperatures push diners indoors.

The dinner rush between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM remains the busiest time slot across most cuisines, especially for fast food, Indian, Italian, and international fare. But Arabic restaurants buck the trend with traditional breakfasts such as foul, falafel, and labneh sandwiches peaking in popularity between 10:00 AM and noon.

Globally, dinner hours around 6:00 PM tend to be peak time, but the Middle East’s evening skew could also be linked to Ramadan and social dining habits, where the day winds down late and meals stretch into the night. Interestingly, a rise in Monday morning breakfast orders points to consumers looking for a fresh, convenient start to their week.

Comparing the Markets

While both countries are embracing the mobile food movement, their growth trajectories differ slightly. In the UAE, online meal delivery is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% through 2033, powered by a tech-savvy population and demand for loyalty perks and faster delivery.

Saudi Arabia’s delivery sector, meanwhile, is even more robust, expected to climb at a CAGR of 15.4% through 2030. Its growth is underpinned by rapid urbanisation, high smartphone penetration, and a rising middle class hungry for convenience.

"Mobile-based delivery will remain central to foodservice strategy in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia as they continue to develop digitally and increase mobile order volumes by over 10% year-on-year," says Alexander Ponomarev, CEO at Syrve MENA. "Consistent seasonal peaks, changing spending habits, and rapidly advancing technology are making mobile-first dining the new norm."

Looking ahead, Syrve projects that by the end of 2025, over 80% of food delivery orders in both markets will be made via mobile — a natural evolution in two of the world’s most digitally connected regions. The continued dominance of food aggregator apps, along with restaurants embracing automation and AI, is paving the way for a frictionless future in foodservice.

Kushmita Bose

Staff Writer

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kushmita@khaleejtimes.com

As a passionate storyteller and content writer, Kushmita Bose loves weaving narratives that inform, inspire, and entertain. Whether she's unraveling tech revolutions, dissecting industry reports, or bringing a brand’s journey to life, Kushmita thrives on transforming ideas into captivating stories.
When she’s not busy crafting content, you’ll probably find her daydreaming about her next travel adventure.