Food delivery platform talabat UAE has launched an initiative to support local restaurant brands by offering 100 cloud kitchen spaces free of rent until September 2026, in a move aimed at helping small and homegrown businesses expand their reach and operations.
The programme is intended to reduce operational costs for UAE-founded restaurant brands and enable them to focus on growth, customer engagement, and business sustainability. By providing ready-to-use kitchen infrastructure, the company seeks to remove key barriers that often limit the expansion of smaller food businesses.
Restaurants remain an important part of the UAE’s economy, contributing to job creation, supply chains, and community life. Through the initiative, talabat aims to strengthen this ecosystem by offering practical support to businesses that shape the country’s diverse food landscape.
Under the programme, eligible restaurant brands will be able to operate from cloud kitchen facilities without paying rent until September 2026, allowing them to scale their delivery operations and reach new customers.
Commenting on the move, Simonida Subotic, Managing Director, talabat UAE, said: “Homegrown restaurants are at the heart of the UAE’s food scene, and supporting their growth is a priority for us. With this initiative, we’re removing key barriers and giving our partners the space and visibility they need to scale, while continuing to strengthen the wider ecosystem.”
The company said the initiative is also aimed at supporting job continuity, strengthening local supply networks, and preserving the diversity of the UAE’s food sector by helping smaller brands remain competitive.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify, restaurant brands must have been founded in the UAE, operated for at least 24 months, maintained a minimum of 12 months of delivery activity on any platform, and run at least one physical outlet in the country. According to the company, these requirements are meant to ensure that participating businesses have the capacity to scale and benefit meaningfully from the support.
talabat said the initiative reflects its continued efforts to position itself as a long-term partner to the UAE’s restaurant sector by investing in local businesses, communities, and the broader food ecosystem.
