Delivery Apps’ Top Shopper Spent AED 6,800 In Dubai

In a remarkable shopping feat, a Dubai resident placed a massive grocery order worth over AED 6,800 on Careem Groceries in 2024. The order, one of the largest recorded by the popular grocery delivery app, consisted of 475 home and pantry items. Due to its size, several delivery drivers were required to fulfill the massive bulk order.

This record-breaking grocery haul highlights the growing trend of online shopping and quick grocery deliveries that have surged in the UAE, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Record-Breaking Spending and Orders

But this wasn’t an isolated case. Careem Groceries reported some impressive figures for 2024. One regular shopper placed a total of 988 orders, spending more than AED 42,000 on groceries alone in the year. Another shopper set a new personal record by placing 16 separate orders in a single day last August.

The data also revealed that the most popular time for grocery deliveries in the UAE was 7 PM, as many residents prefer to have their groceries delivered at the end of a busy workday.

Online Shopping Surge in the UAE

The trend of online shopping has been growing rapidly in the UAE, with the demand for quick delivery services becoming an essential part of daily life. A study conducted last year found that there has been a 140% increase in the number of e-commerce shoppers in the UAE since 2020.

This surge in demand is further reflected in the numbers from Careem Food, which saw a Dubai resident set a new single-day record by placing 83 orders worth over AED 1,000. The ease and convenience of ordering food and groceries online have reshaped shopping habits, especially in the post-pandemic era.

Increased Delivery Orders Across the UAE

The growing popularity of delivery services extends beyond groceries. Data from Syrve Mena, a restaurant software provider, and Admitad, a leading partnership marketing platform, showed a 10% year-over-year increase in delivery orders during the first quarter of 2024. Restaurants in the UAE saw millions of delivery orders, with the median restaurant receiving 228,740 orders annually, generating AED 32 million in sales.

Fast-food chains that specialize in delivery saw even higher numbers, with over 600,000 orders and AED 126 million in sales. The rising trend is clear: convenience and quick access to goods and services are top priorities for UAE consumers.

Exclusive Dining Deals on Delivery Apps

The growth in online orders isn’t just limited to grocery shopping. Careem’s in-app dining discovery feature saw a major transaction at Kempinski The Palm, where a customer spent over AED 25,000 and saved over AED 7,000 thanks to exclusive discounts. Such deals highlight how customers are increasingly turning to delivery apps for both convenience and savings.