Meal Delivery - United Arab Emirates

In 2024, the Meal Delivery market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is projected to reach a revenue of US$1.09bn.
The market is expected to experience an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 3.70%, leading to a projected market volume of US$1.30bn by 2029.
The Platform Deliverymarket, on the other hand, is expected to have a market volume of US$707.80m in 2024.
When looking at global comparison, China is anticipated to generate the highest revenue, amounting to US$184.50bn in 2024.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Meal Delivery market is projected to be US$373.00 in 2024.
Additionally, the number of users in the Meal Delivery market is expected to reach 3.4m users by 2029.
The user penetration rate in the Meal Delivery market is estimated to be 30.4% in 2024.
The growing demand for healthy and convenient meal delivery options in the United Arab Emirates is driving the expansion of the market.

Definition:

Meal Delivery is the online ordering and delivery of prepared meals by a restaurant or a platform for direct consumption. Orders are typically placed in an app or on a website. The delivery is handled by the platform enterprise (e.g. Deliveroo) or directly by the restaurant (e.g. Domino’s).

Structure:

Meal Delivery contains the user and revenue development of two different delivery service solutions for prepared meals: (1) Restaurant Delivery and (2) Platform Delivery. The Restaurant Delivery market includes the delivery of meals carried out directly by the restaurants. The order may be made via platforms (e.g. Delivery Hero, Just Eat) or directly through a restaurant website (e.g. Domino's). The Platform Delivery market focuses on online delivery services that provide customers with meals from partner restaurants that do not necessarily have to offer food delivery themselves. In this case, the platform (e.g. Deliveroo) handles the delivery process.).

Additional Information:

Revenue includes the gross merchandise value (GMV), defined as the total sales dollar value for merchandise/food sold through the Online Food Delivery marketplace. User and revenue figures represent B2C services.

Meals ordered online which are directly delivered by the restaurant, no matter if ordered via a platform (e.g. Delivery Hero) or a restaurant website (e.g. Domino's)
Online meal order and delivery both carried out by a platform (e.g. Deliveroo)
Online orders that are picked up in the restaurant

Phone orders
Deliveries of non-processed or non-prepared food (e.g. HelloFresh)

The Meal Delivery market in United Arab Emirates has been experiencing a significant growth in recent years.

Customer preferences: The customers in the United Arab Emirates prefer to order food online due to the convenience it offers. The busy lifestyle of the people in the country has led to an increase in demand for meal delivery services. The customers prefer to order from restaurants that offer a wide range of cuisines and have a good reputation for quality.

Trends in the market: One of the major trends in the Meal Delivery market in United Arab Emirates is the emergence of cloud kitchens. Cloud kitchens are delivery-only restaurants that do not have a physical dining space. These kitchens focus solely on preparing food for delivery. The rise of cloud kitchens is due to the increasing demand for meal delivery services and the need for cost efficiency.Another trend in the market is the shift towards healthy eating. Customers are becoming more health-conscious and are looking for meal delivery services that offer healthy options. This has led to an increase in demand for organic and plant-based meal delivery services.

Local special circumstances: The United Arab Emirates has a diverse population with a mix of locals and expatriates from different countries. This has led to an increase in demand for meal delivery services that offer a wide range of cuisines. The country also has a large number of tourists, which has led to an increase in demand for meal delivery services that cater to tourists.

Underlying macroeconomic factors: The United Arab Emirates has a strong economy and a high standard of living. The country has a large expatriate population that is well-paid and has a high disposable income. This has led to an increase in demand for meal delivery services. The government of the United Arab Emirates has also been investing heavily in technology, which has led to the growth of the meal delivery market in the country.

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and represent what consumers pay for these products and services. The user metrics show the number of customers who have made at least one online purchase within the past 12 months.

Modeling approach / Market size:

Market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on predefined factors for each market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies, third-party studies and reports, as well as survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey). In addition, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations, such as GDP, GDP per capita, and internet connection speed. This data helps us estimate the market size for each country individually.

Forecasts:

In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the relevant market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing. The main drivers are internet users, urban population, usage of key players, and attitudes toward online services.

Additional notes:

The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

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