Talabat

Talabat (Arabic: طلبات) is a leading on-demand delivery platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, providing services for food ordering, grocery delivery, gifts, and other everyday essentials through a mobile app and website.^[1] Founded in 2004 in Kuwait as an online food ordering service, it has expanded into a comprehensive e-commerce ecosystem connecting customers with local restaurants, retailers, and businesses, supporting both online payments and cash on delivery.^[2] As of 2025, Talabat operates in eight countries—Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—serving millions of users with a focus on fast, reliable, and personalized delivery experiences.^[2] The company was initially established to address the growing demand for convenient meal ordering in the Gulf region and quickly gained traction as a pioneer in digital food delivery.^[1] In 2015, Talabat was acquired by Rocket Internet, which bolstered its technological infrastructure and regional expansion; this was followed by its integration into Delivery Hero SE in 2016, where it became a key subsidiary driving growth in emerging markets.^[3] Under Delivery Hero's ownership, which held approximately 80% stake as of late 2024, Talabat diversified beyond food to include quick-commerce (Q-commerce) for groceries and non-food items, leveraging data analytics and logistics innovations to enhance efficiency.^[4] In December 2024, Talabat Holding PLC completed an initial public offering (IPO) on the Dubai Financial Market, raising approximately $2 billion in the largest technology sector IPO in the GCC for that year and valuing the company at around $10.1 billion.^[5] The listing marked a significant milestone, enabling further investment in operations and market penetration amid robust growth; for fiscal year 2024, Talabat reported a gross merchandise value (GMV) of $7.4 billion, revenue of $3.0 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of $497 million, reflecting a 23% GMV increase year-over-year.^[6] In September 2025, Talabat faced a one-week suspension of its services in Qatar by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry due to misleading consumer information, resulting in a fine of QAR 1.14 million (approximately $313,000); operations resumed after corrective measures.^[7] For the third quarter of 2025, Talabat reported a 27% year-over-year increase in GMV. Today, as a publicly traded entity (ticker: TALABAT on DFM), Talabat continues to prioritize sustainability, community impact, and technological advancements, including partnerships for drone delivery, solidifying its position as MENA's premier delivery service.^[8]^[9]^[10]

History

Talabat was founded in 2004 in Kuwait by Abdulaziz Al Loughani and Khaled Al Otaibi as an online food ordering platform, initially serving the local market.^[11] The company expanded to other GCC countries starting in 2011, entering Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, followed by Jordan in 2012 and Egypt (through the acquisition of Otlob) in 2013.^[12] In 2015, Rocket Internet acquired Talabat for approximately €150 million ($169 million), accelerating its growth and technological upgrades.^[13] In December 2016, Delivery Hero acquired Rocket Internet's global food delivery businesses, including Talabat, integrating it as a core operation in the MENA region.^[14] Under Delivery Hero, Talabat launched quick-commerce services, acquiring platforms like InstaShop in 2020 to bolster grocery delivery.^[15] The company went public in December 2024 via an IPO on the Dubai Financial Market.^[5] In March 2025, Talabat acquired InstaShop from Delivery Hero for $32 million to consolidate its grocery vertical.^[16]

Talabat

History

References