Food delivery giant talabat has launched a major infrastructure initiative to back the local food and beverage sector in the UAE.
The newly public company is offering 100 rent-free cloud kitchen spaces to homegrown restaurant brands, eliminating a significant operational expense to accelerate their delivery-focused growth until September 2026.
Quick Facts
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100 cloud kitchens available rent-free until September 2026.
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Program targets homegrown UAE restaurant brands for delivery growth.
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Requires 24 months of operation and one physical location.
Scaling the UAE Food Ecosystem Through Cloud Kitchen Infrastructure
Cloud kitchens operate as a primary growth channel for restaurant scaling, allowing operators to bypass the steep overhead costs associated with traditional dine-in establishments.
By covering the rent, talabat aims to redirect restaurant capital toward customer acquisition, menu optimization, and operational efficiency.
The initiative supports job continuity and reinforces local supply chains across the domestic F&B sector.
“Homegrown restaurants are at the heart of the UAE’s food scene, and supporting their growth is a priority for us,” said Simonida Subotic, Managing Director of talabat UAE.
“With this initiative, we’re removing key barriers and giving our partners the space and visibility they need to scale, while continuing to strengthen the wider ecosystem,” Subotic added.
Qualification Requirements for Local Restaurant Brands
To access the rent-free infrastructure, participating food brands must meet specific operational benchmarks.
The program targets established local players with proven market traction rather than early-stage concepts.
Eligible restaurants must be first-founded in the UAE and have a minimum operating history of 24 months.
Additionally, brands need to demonstrate at least 12 months of active delivery operations across any platform and maintain a minimum of one physical location within the country.
About talabat
Founded in Kuwait in 2004, talabat operates as the MENA region’s leading on-demand food and grocery delivery platform. The company serves millions of active customers across the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. Headquartered in Dubai and operating as a subsidiary of Delivery Hero SE, talabat successfully listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) in December 2024.
Source: Zawya
