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Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a food delivery app like Talabat?
With the tap of a button, we get our favorite dishes delivered right to our doorsteps in just a matter of minutes.
However, behind the convenience of this service lies a well-oiled business model, an innovative mobile app experience, and a thoughtful strategy to keep things going.
If you want to develop a food delivery app like Talabat, invest in our mobile app development company in Dubai for powerful solutions that scale.
Since its launch in 2004, Talabat has navigated the challenges of the highly competitive MENA market, securing its place as a leading food delivery service.
Today, it serves over 6 million active customers, 65,000+ partners, and 119,000+ riders across multiple countries, connecting them to a wide range of restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
In this article, we will discuss how the Talabat business model operates and what makes its mobile app so appealing.
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The global market for online food delivery services is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.4%, reaching US$ 90.3 billion by 2030, up from US$ 3.7 billion in 2023.
And still, there is no sign of stopping.
Also Read: “Food Delivery Apps in Dubai”
If you are among foodtech startups in the GCC or looking to invest in food delivery apps like Talabat, it could be a lucrative decision at present.
Talabat is one of the leading players in the online food delivery market in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Talabat’s business model connects three major players: customers, restaurants (or vendors), and delivery riders.
For customers, the app delivers unmatched convenience with a wide variety of choices, fast delivery, and features like real-time order tracking and personalized food recommendations by AI technology.
Its subscription service, Talabat Prime, enhances the experience further by offering free deliveries and exclusive deals, encouraging users to return frequently.
For restaurants and vendors, Talabat serves as a digital storefront that boosts visibility and increases order volumes.
Talabat earns a commission from every order placed, typically ranging from 10% to 35%, depending on the vendor agreement.
Their stakeholders heavily invest in technology, operations, and marketing.
To be precise, the real cause behind their success is that they aim to solve real problems for all:
Here is the detail for the Talabat App Performance Snapshot:
| Metric | Value |
| Active Users | 12+ Million |
| Talabat Customer Demographics | UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman |
| Parent Company | Delivery Hero |
| Core Services | Food, Grocery, Pharmacy, Courier |
| Loyalty Program | Talabat Prime |
| Notable Features | AI recommendations, real-time tracking |
| Sustainability Efforts | Eco-friendly packaging, CSR campaigns |
Food delivery apps like Talabat are growing at breakneck speed, and getting in now could be your golden opportunity.
With the right features, customizations, and a reliable custom app developer at your back, you can go live faster.
If you are a business owner looking to enter this booming market, investing in a Talabat clone app could be your smartest move yet.
So rather than reinventing the wheel and spending thousands of dollars to build everything from scratch.
You should leverage the success of a proven business model to maximize revenue from food delivery apps.
There are several other compelling reasons to go for this:
One of the top perks of going with a Talabat clone app is that you get a trusted method in hand rather than a tedious development process from scratch.
It helps you eliminate the back-breaking market research, cognitive overhead of coding, and endless testing attempts.
Their blueprint can reduce the risk of experimenting with untested ideas and increase your chances of success right from the start.
Food delivery app development can take several months or may be a year when you do it from scratch.
In contrast, these apps come with a ready-made core structure that drastically reduces development time.
This allows you to launch your app quickly and start onboarding restaurants and customers while your competitors are still stuck in the planning stage.
For most of the startups, building an app like Talabat from the ground up can be extremely expensive.
It could cost them between $40,000 and $80,000, or possibly more, due to design, backend development, testing, and ongoing maintenance.
Clone apps reduce these costs by half through the use of pre-built frameworks.
You still get the flexibility to customize the features and branding without breaking the bank.
Also read: Check out our in-depth guide on food delivery app development costs to help you kickstart your project and get the best value from it
A Talabat clone app is equipped with all the critical features needed to ensure smooth operations for every user type—customers, restaurants, delivery agents, and admins.
This rich feature set will ensure that your food delivery app becomes a go-to solution for all users’ needs, while also streamlining business operations.
Below is the list of key features within an app like this:
Talabat clone apps are built to scale, meaning you will start small and gradually add more restaurants, cities, and delivery agents without overhauling the system.
They include a number of ways to help you earn maximum revenue from food delivery apps.
You can earn through delivery fees, commissions from restaurants, sponsored listings, subscription packages, and even advertisements.
This diversification helps stabilize your revenue and ensures you’re not relying on a single source for profitability.
Looking to make some extra cash in the UAE without spending a dime? Check out the 12 best money-earning apps that can help you boost your income!
For entrepreneurs without a technical background, building a food delivery app like Talabat can feel overwhelming.
These reduce that complexity by offering a structured, user-friendly foundation.
A reliable app development company in Saudi Arabia, such as Trango Tech, also provides ongoing support and hosting services.
So you don’t have to worry about maintaining the technical backend. You simply need to focus on growing your brand and managing your day-to-day operations.
The success of creating a food delivery app lies in building a Talabat mobile experience that people trust and enjoy.
If you are a startup, entrepreneur, or restaurant chain looking to develop a food delivery app like Talabat, we’re here to help.
With the feasible idea, the right features, and a little guidance, you can effortlessly be the next big Talabat in the online food delivery market in the Middle East.
To create a food delivery app like Talabat, it is necessary to understand Talabat’s business model.
Rather than starting straight with designing or coding, consider what business model you would like to pursue.
This is a big decision because your business model shapes how your app will function, how it earns revenue, and even how it looks.
If you’re inspired by Talabat’s success, the aggregator model (where multiple restaurants list their menus) is a solid starting point.
You always have a chance to evolve it later, but defining your path early will help you stay focused.
A good food delivery app is more than just a digital menu.
When building a Talabat-style food delivery app, it’s essential to consider it as a comprehensive ecosystem, not just a single app.
To ensure everything runs smoothly from order placement to doorstep delivery, you’ll need four key components: the Customer App, Restaurant Panel, Delivery Agent App, and an Admin Dashboard.
Each role in the system should have a seamless experience that makes life easier, not harder.
Want to explore more food delivery apps beyond Talabat? Our latest article rounded up 15 of the best ones worth trying.
The tech stack you choose is like the foundation of a building — everything relies on it. If you want your app to be fast, secure, and easy to maintain, you need to pick the right tools.
Here’s a possible technology stack for building a Talabat-like food delivery app:
| Component | Technologies |
| Frontend (App) | Flutter, React Native, Swift, Kotlin |
| Backend | Node.js, Laravel, Django |
| Database | PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL |
| Real-time Tracking | Google Maps API, Mapbox, Firebase |
| Payments | Stripe, PayPal, Telr, Apple Pay |
| Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging, OneSignal |
| Admin Dashboard | React.js or Vue.js |
| Hosting | AWS, Google Cloud, Azure |
You could have the best backend system in the world, but if your app is clunky or confusing, users will drop off fast.
That is why UI/UX matters a lot for food delivery apps. An app that is fast and just feels good to navigate is more likely to hold user interest.
Try to keep things in the app interface as simple as you can. It should have clear buttons, beautiful images, and easy navigation.
For those targeting countries like the UAE or Kuwait, multilingual support, especially in Arabic and English, is a must.
Also, make sure the ordering process is smooth, from browsing menus to making payments.
Instead of building a full-blown app with every feature imaginable, start with the basics — this is what we call a Minimum Viable Product.
It’s like a stripped-down version of your dream app, with just enough features to test your idea in the real world.
A study by Leaware reveals that a substantial 67% of successful startups attribute their success to the strategic use of an MVP.
This is due to its capability to save money, launch faster, and learn what your users actually want. With this quick feedback, you can effortlessly refine your app product.
MVPs are a smart way to test consumer behavior in the food delivery market without going all-in from day one.
You can hire an in-house team if you have the necessary resources, or partner with an experienced custom app developer, such as Trango Tech.
We have the right tech, expertise, and resources to manage everything from design to deployment.
Here’s something many new founders overlook — local laws and user expectations.
If you are building your app in the UAE or GCC region, there are specific compliance laws that should be strictly followed to avoid any setbacks later.
You need to make sure your app complies with local data privacy regulations, tax rules (like VAT), and payment laws.
Also, consider local logistics like
Being extra attentive to details will help you stand out with region-specific features and maximum user satisfaction.
To pave your way to success, make sure your app is flexible enough to handle currency changes, different languages, and varying commission structures.
Now that everything is done and dusted. It’s time to put your food delivery app like Talabat business in people’s hands.
You can start sharing promo codes, referral bonuses, or even free delivery to attract your first batch of users.
Utilize platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Google Ads to disseminate the message.
It is also a useful strategy to partner with influencers or popular food bloggers to give your app some local buzz.
Last but not least, don’t hold yourself till launch. Keep a check on online ordering trends in Dubai and how your target users are using your app.
Update your app based on user feedback, fix any existing bugs, and keep rolling out new features.
The most successful apps, such as Talabat, didn’t become giants overnight — it took them years of effort and consistency to get there.
Food delivery apps like Talabat have completely shaken how we order meals.
Rather than hours of reckless waiting, you can just tap into your mobile and enjoy your yummy food in no time.
For this convenience, there are countless efforts by custom app developers, riders, and entrepreneurs.
It may seem like a simple task, but there is a long list of challenges for those who want to replicate Talabat’s business model.
Let’s discuss the toughest challenge of developing an app like Talabat and how our mobile app development company will overcome it.
Normally, the food delivery apps have a single-segment target audience. In contrast, apps like Talabat target several different groups, such as:
Every single group will expect as good an experience as their Talabat mobile experience.
To put it simply, it is going to be tricky for you to design separate interfaces and balance all relationships.
You will have to go the extra mile here for dedicated interfaces and features for every target user.
We recommend adopting a modular architecture for a food delivery app like Talabat Business. It will allow you to conveniently organize all functionalities and ensure everything is up to the mark.
Live order tracking is one of the most fascinating features in the Talabat business model app.
Customers love to see where their food is and how long it will take to reach their plates.
According to Dispatch Track, 90% of customers want the ability to track their deliveries. This underscores the foremost importance of transparency in the delivery process.
For real-time order tracking, your app should have smooth synchronization between orders, restaurant updates, and delivery drivers.
Utilizing technologies like WebSockets for instant updates and geotrack APIs (such as Google Maps or Mapbox) for precise location tracking will aid you in this endeavor.
You will also need to ensure that the backend infrastructure can handle this constant flow of real-time data.
Talabat’s business model completely relies on delivery drivers. The weather updates, traffic routes, and unexpected accidents impact them a lot.
You must ensure that drivers take the shortest routes, avoid traffic, and deliver food on time.
Also, it can be back-breaking to manage a fleet of drivers and coordinate deliveries, which can get pretty complex.
To solve this, developers usually prioritize AI technology for route optimization that calculates the best routes based on traffic, weather, and order urgency.
This makes deliveries more efficient and ensures a better experience for both customers and drivers.
They also put into the use of APIs like the Google Distance Matrix to help optimize routes in real-time.
Got an interst in creating an app like tiktok? Go through an end-to-end guide that explains everything, including cost, features, and key steps.
Food delivery apps often experience traffic spikes, especially during meal hours or promotional events.
Adding a fact here, around 70% of users uninstall food delivery apps after a single use, often due to poor performance during high-traffic periods.
If your app can’t handle sudden surges in traffic, users will have a bad experience and may switch to your competitor.
To address this, consider hosting your cloud infrastructure, such as AWS or Azure, with auto-scaling capabilities to manage traffic spikes.
Adopting a microservices architecture can also be beneficial, as it enables individual components of your app to scale independently.
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned.
A delivery might be delayed, a customer might receive the wrong order, or there could be payment issues.
How you handle these situations can make or break your business.
Implement a live chat support system or an AI-powered chatbot that can answer frequently asked questions.
For more complex issues, create an efficient system for managing customer complaints and disputes. This will ensure customers feel heard and valued.
There is currently a massive wave of growth in food delivery apps in the UAE, driven by prominent players such as Talabat, Deliveroo, and Zomato.
To compete against them, your app should be functional, fast, feature-rich, and developed on cutting-edge technology.
Regardless of whether it’s Friday night dinner rush or a massive promotional campaign, your next food delivery app must be ready to handle any peak demand.
That’s exactly what we do at Trango Tech. Our mobile app development company builds high-performance, user-friendly apps that help startups and enterprises thrive.
We have already launched over 200 successful apps in Dubai and across the UAE—and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Talabat’s business model is well-liked all over the UAE because it puts convenience first. Users are amused by a wide range of restaurants and fast delivery. They use data smartly for strong local partnerships and a user-friendly app that makes Talabalat business too hard to beat.
How do you create food delivery apps like Talabat?
To create a food delivery app like Talabat, you need a smart strategy and a solid tech foundation. Inspired by the Talabat business model, it should include requisite features like live order tracking, restaurant dashboards, rider apps, secure payments, and a clean, intuitive design.
Talabat business usually takes a 15% to 35% commission on every single order. The exact charges depend on your agreement with them, how many orders you get, and whether you use the delivery fleet or your own.
A Talabat clone app development costs you anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000+. It really depends on what features you need, the number of user roles, platforms (iOS, Android, web), and any extras like loyalty programs or AI tools.
To get started with Talabat’s business model, go to their vendor sign-up page, enter your business info, and submit the form. A representative from their firm will provide you with a complete setup, including menu uploads, delivery options, and document verification.
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Daniyal is a passionate content writer & editor with 3+ years of experience crafting SEO-friendly blogs, web copies, and marketing content for an mobile app development company. He loves turning ideas into words that connect, engage, and deliver value. Currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Trango Tech, Daniyal holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature.
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