talabat UAE, the region’s leading food delivery and q-commerce platform, revealed its year-on-year business performance report for 2022, achieving a growth of over 37% in orders across its portfolio of food, groceries, and other non-food verticals, as well as an increase of more than 28% in its customer base with over 23% new app downloads. Reflecting the increased adoption of cashless modes of payment and digital transformation in the UAE, the tech company also announced that over 68% of online order payments were made digitally through its platform last year.
Tatiana Rahal, Managing Director, talabat UAE, commented: “As a key player on the UAE tech scene, data and innovation play a crucial role in our growth, steering our efforts to improve our offerings and further enhance value for our ecosystem of customers, partners and riders. Being in a country such as the UAE, which is spearheading digital transformation in the region, provides businesses with the advanced infrastructure and fertile ground to flourish.
She continued: This in turn enables the private sector, including talabat, to contribute to economic growth, as well as create shared value for the communities we operate in. Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, we are excited to keep introducing new concepts across our operations and making the future of delivery a reality – from talabots to drone deliveries and more.”
Increased demand for non-food online delivery
The business results were driven by a 70% growth in overall non-food online delivery segment, including supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmaceuticals, flower shops and more. talabat Mart (tMart), talabat’s pioneering q-commerce and dark store concept which delivers groceries in less than 30 minutes, also witnessed a growth of over 60% in orders, with more than 30 stores strategically located across all seven emirates to meet the growing demand today.
Over 19,000 active restaurants, 10 talabat cloud kitchens
talabat UAE reported having over 19,000 active restaurants on the platform in 2022 across the seven emirates. This reflects the company’s continuous commitment to support partners by offering tech solutions and industry expertise to enhance their online reach and presence. talabat additionally continues to provide special programs, subsidized fees and mentorship for SMEs and home projects across the UAE, through partnerships with various governmental entities including the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, Dubai Economy and Tourism, and the Emirati Entrepreneur Association.
Additionally, talabat reported over 400% growth in orders from 10 active talabat cloud kitchens, contributing to talabat’s solid results in 2022.
250 rider wellbeing and road safety trainings across the UAE in collaboration with government entities
In 2022 alone, riders delivering for talabat received over 250 wellbeing and road safety trainings in collaboration with government entities across the seven Emirates. This is part of the company’s continued strategy to support UAE’s government’s mission in fostering a road safety culture for all road users, including delivery riders, and enhancing safety and wellbeing in our communities.
In addition, talabat UAE launched “Road Safety Week”, an initiative that was held several times last year, during which more than 15,000 riders benefited from extensive on-ground trainings and over 150 riders were awarded for adhering to traffic rules in collaboration with regulatory authorities.
Launch of ‘talabat Pro’ & ‘Quick-commerce-as-a-Service’
With the aim to provide additional benefits to customers, in March 2022, talabat introduced ‘talabat pro’ in the UAE, a subscription service providing users with unlimited free delivery on qualifying orders. Since its launch, ‘talabat Pro’ reported over 190% growth in customer subscriptions, with over 13,000 registered partners including restaurants, groceries and more.
Additionally, talabat launched its first Quick-Commerce-as-a-service (Q-CAAS) concept in the UAE, a delivery-only store operation management solution catering to the increased demand for hyperlocal delivery. This service extends talabat Mart’s know-how in dark store management to benefit its retail partners and enhance their operational efficiency and customer experience. The talabat-operated Q-CaaS stores are home to aswaaq Retail, Marks & Spencers’ food and Organics Food & Cafe.
45% contribution to Dubai Can’s results since the sustainability initiative’s launch
Sustainability remains top of mind for the company. In early 2022, talabat UAE became the only founding partner for Dubai Can, a sustainability initiative by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai with 20 talabat water refill stations across Dubai.
Through its 20 machines, talabat UAE contributed to 45% of the initiative’s overall results in its first year, saving 3 million 500ml plastic single-use bottles and dispensing 1.5 million liters of drinking water. This is part of talabat UAE’s efforts to drive change and encourage the adoption of new behavior by providing the community as well as delivery riders access to free water refill machines to help them stay hydrated while enabling them to refill their reusable bottles, especially during the summer months.
Enabling giving back in a few simple and safe steps through tech and innovation
talabat UAE continued to utilise its tech for good by partnering with trusted local, regional and international charities such as Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), Emirates Red Crescent, The World Food Programme (WFP) and Dubai Culture to facilitate customer donations through the platform.
In 2022, talabat reported raising over AED 3.3 million worth of in-app donations by its customers, equivalent to 1.9 million meals, which represents over 35% year-on-year increase. Additionally, over 400 million talabat reward points were also donated by customers, equivalent to AED 560,000 in partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Dubai Cares, equivalent to 430,000 meals.