How to Build a Talabat Style Food Delivery App in the UAE

Good food is the cornerstone of real happiness, but sometimes you may be too busy or too tired to cook. It is a very common dilemma one can find themself in, but the rise of food delivery apps like Talabat has solved this for everyone. Talabat has completely shifted the trend of food deliveries in Dubai, as they have a very diverse approach to making the whole user experience seamless along with satisfying your craving. 

If you are someone who has always wanted to explore how food delivery apps work, or if you are curious about how to develop an app like Talabat UAE, then this blog is for you. If so, this blog will provide you with a detailed guide to the Talabat portal, which is not just a clone but a better-functioning app.

How Talabat UAE Makes Money?

Talabat is a Qatar-based company founded in 2004 it is one of the most prominent grocery and food delivery applications currently functioning in the UAE. It is the perfect combination of seamless functioning and eye-catching aesthetics, which gives the user easy access to all the restaurants nearby their location. The Talabat app has every cuisine you can think of, from street food shops to restaurant outlets, at an affordable price. 

However, even after providing users with preferred cuisines at an affordable price, talabat UAE makes money from an intelligently designed system; here is how the talabat revenue model works.  

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Talabat allows registered businesses to promote themselves on the app with banner ads and features like priority listings, which gives them leverage for advertisement revenue.In addition, the websites and apps for regional restaurants were frequently displayed and promoted to achieve better returns on investment. Since Talabat does not exchange customer data, businesses must rely on earned revenues to enhance their visibility.

Commissions

The Talabat app generally charges 15 to 25 percent commission on restaurants’ ordered bills, and the percentage for commission varies as per multiple factors. The charges are determined by order volume, the restaurant’s location, Talabat’s dependencies on the restaurant, and other similar considerations. The app is frequently trying to exclusively book restaurants onboard so that they can increase the exposure and reduce the commissions by at least 5 to 10%. 

Delivery Charges

Talabat is one of the most customer-centric apps you’ve used, as it doesn’t have minimum order delivery requirements. The received orders can be under any cap, as the cost of logistics per order is increased. After the surge, they started to charge a small amount as delivery charges, which varies as per the area and region. In case of special occasions, midnight deliveries, storms or in the event of high demand, they charge a significantly higher amount.

Must-Have Features for a Food Delivery App in Dubai

An app like Talabat has various features that vary as per the user and service provider, as the application supports different features on both ends, for instance, the service provider panel and the user panel. However, there are a few basics that are a must for simplifying your on-demand food delivery.

User panel Features

Sign In

The very basic thing that will simplify the overall experience of a food delivery app is to sign in and create your profile. Apps like Talabat ensure that the login process is simple by allowing users to sign in using combinations of their phone number, email, and password.The app should also allow social media sign-in, letting users log in with their X, Instagram, or Facebook accounts. It gradually increases the efficiency and saves users’ efforts and time.

Browsing Page

Browsing the home page is the face of the application, which displays all the available discounts and offers as well as the restaurants. The home page contains all the necessary information and tabs, which gives users easy access to the functions of the software and other features. As mentioned, it is like the face for the app; this is why the homepage is displayed too much during the app promotions as it does not require you to sign in. 

Location for Delivery

This is one of the most essential elements of the app, as the users can easily highlight and pinpoint the location for delivery and the address where the food should be delivered. This feature enhances the user experience, as they can provide the app with the exact location for delivering their food at their doorsteps.

Add to bag

 It is one of the most prominent features of the application as it allows you to add all your favorite cuisines to the cart. Once you select all the food items you want to order you simply need to checkout your cart and your order will be placed.

Order History

This feature comes in handy when users are looking for a previously purchased order. This tab allows you to review all your previous orders and easily reorder the items you’ve tasted and are craving again.

Real Time food tracking

The real-time food tracking feature separates talabat from other apps, as it is a very important feature that helps you with the real-time location of your food. Users can track their order and contact the delivery person if the estimated arrival time has passed.

Search Bar

It is one of the most vital aspects of any application and it is mandatory because you can look for every feature and option by searching it using the name. It is very useful when you can’t find the restaurant you’re looking for in the app.

Payment gateways

The feature that comes last yet is the most important one is the payment gateway, as it gives the user the leverage of varied payment options. Apps like talabat have been using this feature very effectively, as they provide users with a variety of payment methods such as UPI, debit card, credit card and internet banking as well. These third-party integrations are a must for the scalability of the app as it attracts a wider audience.

Service providers panel features 

Now that you have understood the nonnegotiable on the users’ end, it is important to understand that the app should function seamlessly on the service providers’ end. That is why there are some essentials that must be integrated into it irrespective of the application working on.

Here is the list of features on the service provider’s end.

Service provider Dashboard

Apps like talabat are the perfect combination of aesthetics and smooth functionality, as they provide sellers with a dashboard for all the food delivery-related updates, which include completed and ongoing orders. Additionally, there would be a restaurant manager who will be performing analysis of the dishes on the restaurant side as well. The manager will be responsible for handling transactions and addressing customer needs.

Order Updates

This feature is vital for a service provider because it allows them to decline or accept orders based on availability. Other than that, with this feature restaurants can go through the order history as well for completed orders and provide all the necessary support to the user in case it is needed.

Real-time GPS

Sharing the delivery person’s exact location after the food leaves the restaurant will help the restaurant determine whether the order is still in transit or has already been delivered.

Multi Language support

Talabt portal and other food and custom grocery apps are popular for their smart features, including 24/7, 365-day multilingual support. This multi-language usage allows them to tap into a wider market in the whole middle east as the users get the option of their preferred language.

The quality of the app should be the main priority during the development. That is why it is important to look for someone who has their core competence in Mobile app development services so that the app quality does not get affected.

Building Your Talabat-Style App: Step-by-Step

Now that you have a clear understanding, how does an app such as Talabat generate revenue and what features should it incorporate? Going forward, we will provide you with a carefully detailed guide on how to develop an app like Talabat from experts.

Market Research

Before entering any new market, it is important to understand the market trends and environment for a better understanding of the industry’s dynamics. Once you start with your market research during the process, you will get an in-depth understanding of the latest trends and insights; such knowledge will significantly improve the app quality. The market research will provide you with the information on your competitors’ strategies as well. Once you have completed the research phase, it is time to begin developing the food delivery app, similar to Talabat. We highly recommend thoroughly examining your targeted users to determine the app’s needs.

Technology Stack & Key API Integrations

Selecting the right tech stack for your app is crucial during the development phase, as it can significantly impact its success or failure. The right tech stack will significantly contribute to the seamless functioning, performance, and longevity of the app. This will also give you much-needed clarity on the app platform to decide whether the app is for you on IOS, android or a cross-platform app.

The development can be simplified if you hire dedicated developers who have their expertise in app development so that they can use the best tech stack and development platform.

App Security, Compliance & Data Protection

Your app security is the utmost priority during the development. That is why it is important to integrate strong encryption like data minimization.Users can be sure about the robustness of the account security, as only you can access your account information because of robust security which meets global regulations and protects against data breaches.

MVP to Launch

We strongly recommend opting for a minimum viable product due to its proven cost-saving benefits. Other than that, MVP gives you the leverage of checking the products’ functionality of the app even before fully developing it so that you can save problems in the initial development phase. The development of minimum viable products allows for frequent improvements so that the app can become more customer-centric.

Cost Breakdown & Project Timeline

The cost for developing an app like talabat depends on the features and requirements of the app along with the platform and application you have chosen for the app development.

Module	Estimated Cost in AED	Duration
Backend and core features	50k to 70k	8 to 10 weeks
EYAANA Chat and Voice Integration	5k to 10k	1 to 2 weeks
Restaurant and driver dashboards	8k to 15k	1 to 2 weeks
Admin Portal	8k to 15k	1 to 2 weeks
Total Cost	50,000k to 70,000k	12 weeks

 

Marketing, Growth & Post-Launch Support

Once we complete all development processes, we ensure a smooth deployment of the app to foster enhanced market growth. We understand that you need even more after the launch; that is why we provide post-launch support for frequent optimization and testing so that the app can function smoothly. We perform a thorough analysis of the app with continuous testing for post-launch bug fixes.

Major Challenges in Building Food Delivery Apps

Creating a food delivery app seems simple enough: a quick tap, an order, and a meal. But the truth is, it has its own challenges. 

Logistics and real-time tracking

The first major challenge is  managing drivers, anticipating traffic, and guaranteeing hot food delivery require advanced GPS integration, dynamic routing algorithms, and machine learning to get those estimated arrival times right. 

Peak hours scalability

The issue of scalability during peak times puts a strain on servers. Apps such as Uber Eats manage millions of orders without a problem during lunch hours or special events. Poor performance in this area leads to lost revenue.

Regulatory compliance

The regulatory compliance  works for ensuring food safety regulations, economy worker protections, and payment security standards (PCI DSS) all presenting potential legal issues. Data privacy laws, such as GDPR and CCPA, further complicate matters.

User retention

The retention of users  is a constant struggle against competition. The high cost of acquiring new users means that apps must be good at personalization, loyalty initiatives, and providing a smooth user experience to keep people engaged.

How Leading Food Delivery Platforms Succeed

Companies like DoorDash, Deliveroo have found success by navigating these obstacles. They work on AI-powered demand predictions to strategically position drivers and refine their restaurant partnerships.

Frequent offers

Apps like DashPass from DoorDash keeps customers coming back with free deliveries, and Uber Eats has simplified its operations by linking up with ridesharing services.

Third Party Payment Integrations

This growth is the result of easy payments through Apple Pay or UPI, along with targeted, local marketing. After the pandemic, they’ve shifted focus to groceries and quick commerce, leveraging data analytics to suggest menu items—this has increased order values by 20-30%.

Constant Updates

They rely on testing, user feedback, and significant investment in technology. These apps are more than just food delivery services; they’re building ecosystems where speed, dependability, and customer satisfaction all come together.

Conclusion

The development of an app like Talabat requires local market expertise and carefully designed strategies, which come with working experience and market research. It is important to understand that the app should not be an exact replica of Talabat; instead, the developer can draw inspiration from it, but the new app must function better in order to replicate Talabat’s success in Dubai. The market for food delivery in Dubai is growing exponentially well and will continue to do so. With our years of experience in Android App development we ensure you get a dependable and scalable product that is adaptable in nature as per the changing market trends.

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