Mobile food delivery orders soar by 30% across UAE and Saudi Arabia in first half of 2025

By Web Desk / July 17, 2025

Dubai, UAE: Recent data from Syrve MENA, a leading restaurant software provider in the Middle East, reveals a substantial shift in consumer behaviour across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first half of 2025 saw a 30% rise in mobile food delivery orders, underscoring the region’s growing preference for digital convenience.

Aggregators Drive Digital Dominance

Food aggregators continue their role as the most popular mobile order channel in both markets. Approximately 75% of mobile orders from surveyed restaurants process through apps such as HungerStation, Talabat, and Deliveroo. The remaining 25% are handled by restaurant-operated call centres, proprietary apps, and websites – a strategy larger chains often employ for greater operational control.

Mobile devices dominate food delivery transactions. More than 70% of all food delivery orders originate from mobile phones. This reflects the region’s strong inclination towards digital services. While precisely estimating the increase in mobile orders in H1 2025 versus 2024 proves challenging, Talabat reported a 30% year-on-year increase in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in Q1. This indicates a significant rise in order volume. Their revenue and adjusted EBITDA both grew by 34%, while adjusted net income rose by 24%.

Seasonal Peaks and Evolving Daily Patterns

Syrve MENA data highlights clear mobile delivery activity trends. The UAE market reached its first peak in March 2025, coinciding with Ramadan, a period traditionally associated with increased food ordering. Another seasonal surge expects between June and September. High temperatures make outdoor dining less appealing, leading consumers to turn to delivery more often.

The evening window, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, consistently yields the highest volume of mobile delivery orders across most restaurant categories. This timeframe proves most popular for fast food, Italian, Indian, and international restaurant chains. However, Arabic food shows a distinct pattern. Traditional breakfast items drive the highest delivery activity between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Popular dishes range from kebabs in Arabic restaurants to rotis and butter naan in Indian chains. Globally, the most popular time for food ordering generally sits around 6:00 PM local time. The later evening peak observed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia likely links to Ramadan, when evening meals shift to after sunset.

UAE vs. Saudi Arabia: Markets on a Mobile Growth Trajectory

Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia experience mobile-driven growth, despite differences in scale and speed. The UAE’s online meal delivery industry anticipates expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% through 2033. Consumer demands for convenience, speed, and loyalty benefits drive this.

The Saudi Arabian market is significantly larger. It projects a 15.4% CAGR through 2030. Urbanisation fuels this surge, alongside advanced digital infrastructure. This includes widespread internet access and smartphone usage. A growing middle class with increasing disposable income and a preference for digital convenience further contributes to this trend.

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

Forecasts predict mobile-based orders will exceed 80% in both markets by the end of 2025. High digital penetration further fuels this trend, making the digital transformation of the food delivery market inevitable. The dominance of food aggregators and restaurants’ increasing drive towards process automation also contribute to this significant shift.