A powerful start to giving back
talabat, the Dubai-based food and grocery delivery platform, has published its first ever Giving Back Impact Report, showcasing how its customers, partners and technology are driving positive social change across the Middle East and North Africa. The results are impressive: in 2025 users contributed more than €1.45 million (around AED 6 million) through the platform’s in-app Giving Back programme across eight regional markets.
How the programme works
The Giving Back initiative allows users to donate directly through the talabat app to licensed charities and humanitarian organisations. By embedding the option into everyday ordering, talabat turns routine transactions into acts of social contribution. The report reveals that donations grew by 6 % year-on-year, and the average contribution per user more than doubled.
Customer engagement sparks impact
This model leans heavily on user engagement. Customers aren’t just ordering food—they are also opting in to support causes. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, users donated over 330,000 meals, contributed more than €1.4 million, and supported 41 charity partners working in areas from food security to disaster relief. The increase in engagement shows that when giving is made easy and integrated, people respond.
Technology meets charity
One of the central ideas behind the programme is that technology can be built around people—not just transactions. talabat views the Giving Back initiative as part of “who we are as a platform and a community.” By enabling in-app donations, tracking impact and partnering with humanitarian organisations, the company is redefining the role of a delivery platform in society.
Partnerships that multiply the good
The report highlights key partnerships, such as with the World Food Programme (WFP) and local licensed charities. For example, in the “Together for Gaza” campaign, talabat supported WFP operations by funding bread production and sustaining bakery operations in Gaza. Donations through the platform helped deliver the equivalent of 900,000 meals to families in need. This shows how a digital platform can channel real-world outcomes.
What it means for communities
For communities across the MENA region, this initiative brings more than money. It brings access, dignity and hope. Food security, disaster relief, humanitarian aid—all receive a boost. For platform users, it offers a simple way to make a difference during their everyday routines. For partner charities, it opens new donation streams and reaches demographics that may not traditionally give through older channels.
Why this matters
In a region where technology and digital economies are accelerating, talabat’s approach signals a shift: platforms can play a social role, not just a commercial one. The fact that donations have risen year-on-year and average contributions per user have more than doubled underlines the appetite for purpose-driven features in digital services. It also sets a benchmark: when giving is frictionless, it scales.
Challenges and future outlook
While the figures are encouraging, sustaining and growing this impact will require ongoing investment, transparency and user trust. Ensuring that donated funds are effectively utilised and communicating those results will be key. talabat has set a foundation; the next step is to deepen the impact—whether by expanding into more markets, adding new charitable causes, and further integrating giving features into the user experience.
A bright path ahead for giving
Looking forward, talabat plans to continue embedding purpose into its platform. By scaling its partnerships, enhancing user experience and showing clear impact, the company aims to redefine what it means to be a tech company with impact in the MENA region. For users, the message is simple: every click, every order can also be a contribution.
In a world where digital services often feel transactional and disconnected from human impact, talabat’s Giving Back Programme offers a reminder: technology, when aligned with purpose, can be a force for good.
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