UAE-headquartered food tech unicorn Kitopi has announced a landmark financial performance for 2025, reaching positive free cash flow in the final quarter of the year. The company, which has evolved from a managed cloud kitchen platform into a vertically integrated food ecosystem, reported a 10 percentage point growth in EBITDA, signaling a major shift toward long-term profitability after years of aggressive regional expansion.
Record Growth And Strategic Collaborations
Throughout 2025, Kitopi served 50 million meals, driven by a 30% year-on-year growth across its core brands. The company’s expansion has been bolstered by high-profile collaborations with global and regional entities, including L’Oréal, Nestlé, and Dubai Economy and Tourism. Notable initiatives included the 10×10 campaign with talabat in Dubai and a partnership with Dubai SME to support local Emirati chefs, reinforcing Kitopi’s role as an accelerator for homegrown culinary talent.
The company’s consumer-facing technology also hit significant milestones, with the Kitopi loyalty app crossing 70,000 users in the UAE. On the operational side, the proprietary Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS) reached a new level of maturity, resulting in record-high customer satisfaction scores and a significant reduction in service complaints.
Product Innovation And Vertical Integration
Kitopi’s acquired brands continue to show strong performance, particularly Right Bite, which launched “Right Bite Flex,” a flexible meal plan service. The integration of various dining models—ranging from delivery-only cloud kitchens to premium dine-in locations via the acquisition of AWJ Investments—has allowed the company to capture diverse consumer segments across its five active markets: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Global Expansion And Tech Roadmap For 2026
Looking toward 2026, Kitopi has secured franchising deals that will facilitate entry into three new international markets. A key component of this next phase involves a transition to becoming an “AI-first” organization, embedding artificial intelligence into critical workflows to optimize kitchen efficiency and customer experience.
Furthermore, the Kitopi app is slated for expansion beyond the UAE, supported by a first-of-its-kind blockchain partnership with Avalanche to integrate crypto-based loyalty features. The company aims to leverage its current cash-flow momentum to deliver a full year of profitability in 2026 while continuing to scale its core brand portfolio.
About Kitopi
Founded in 2018 in Dubai by Mohamad Ballout, Bader Ataya, Andres Arenas, and Saman Darkan, Kitopi is the MENA region’s leading tech-powered multi-brand restaurant company. It operates over 200 locations across five markets, employing between 5,000 and 10,000 people. The company utilizes its proprietary Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS) to manage the end-to-end operations of over 100 brands, including owned labels like Operation Falafel, Right Bite, and AWANI. To date, Kitopi has raised over $800 million from global investors including SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Chimera Capital, and DisruptAD.
Source: Mohamad Ballout
