Dubai Strengthens Online Food Delivery Sector with New Guidelines and Working Group

The Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced the launch of a dedicated working group to oversee the city’s fast-growing online food delivery sector. Alongside this initiative, DCCPFT has introduced a new set of industry guidelines aimed at ensuring competitiveness, transparency, and sustainable growth.

Developed in consultation with food delivery platforms, restaurants, and industry stakeholders, the guidelines outline best practices covering:

Platform terms of engagement with food establishments

Data access and transparency

Fair competition standards

The move aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), reflecting the emirate’s commitment to building a fair, competitive, and innovative digital economy.

📈 Booming Market Potential

Research by Statista projects revenues in the UAE’s online food delivery market to surpass AED 5 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 3%, pushing the sector close to AED 6 billion by 2030. In 2024, Dubai’s wider accommodation and food services sector accounted for 3.4% of the city’s GDP, highlighting its importance as a driver of economic growth.

🤝 Public-Private Partnerships

Ahmad Ali Moosa, Director of Fair Trade & Business Protection at DCCPFT, emphasized that the initiative reflects Dubai’s model of public-private collaboration. He stated:

“The online food delivery sector has witnessed robust growth in recent years. We have developed these guidelines with the industry to encourage sustainable growth, elevate business standards, and promote fair competition for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

DCCPFT confirmed it will continue working with stakeholders to assess industry feedback and recommend future measures that support the sector’s long-term competitiveness and innovation.