UAE restaurants recorded a sharp shift toward delivery in the first half of 2026, even as overall order volumes and revenue declined, according to new data from restaurant management software provider Syrve MENA.
The report, which tracked the same restaurants active in both 2025 and 2026, found that delivery orders rose 14.5 percent nationally, while total order volumes fell 4 percent and gross revenue dropped 5.5 percent. The decline was driven largely by a 10.5 percent fall in dine-in orders, reflecting a broader slowdown across the region.
Delivery now accounts for 30.5 percent of all restaurant orders handled by Syrve's network, up from 25.4 percent a year earlier, with its share of revenue climbing from 18.6 percent to 22.5 percent. Restaurants offering delivery processed an average of 11,642 orders in the first half of the year, though average order value held steady, indicating the growth came from order frequency rather than higher spending.
Dine-in spending per order actually edged up slightly, from 115.21 AED to 115.81 AED, suggesting the drop in dine-in revenue stemmed from fewer visits rather than reduced spending.
Syrve's data also revealed significant volatility mid-year. Strong early growth of up to 26 percent gave way to a sharp reversal in mid-February, with orders falling as much as 30 percent by April before recovering by late June. The downturn coincided with Ramadan but extended beyond the holiday period, affecting 61 percent of restaurants and hitting premium and tourist-focused venues hardest.
Alex Ponomarev, CEO of Syrve MENA, said the results confirm a broader shift toward delivery-first dining, noting that operators who track demand in real time are best positioned to adapt. The GCC foodservice market is projected to grow from $69.13 billion in 2026 to $122.19 billion by 2031.
News Source: PR Hub
