Keeta, Meituan’s international on-demand food delivery platform, is marking its first anniversary in the UAE after expanding across all seven emirates within 90 days and building partnerships with thousands of restaurant operators across the country.
Since launching in Dubai in September 2025, Keeta has served millions of customers and fulfilled tens of millions of orders, with delivery partners travelling approximately 200 million kilometres across the UAE to complete them.
The company said its first year had also focused on local contributions, including supporting merchants and small businesses, rider wellbeing, community initiatives and collaboration with local authorities and organisations.
“Our first year in the UAE has been shaped by partnership, with our customers and merchants, our delivery partners, and the government and community organisations we’ve worked alongside,” said Lucas Xie, General Manager of Keeta UAE.
“Reaching all seven emirates was an important early milestone, but what defines this year is how we built locally, responsibly and alongside the people who make every order possible. As we enter our second year, our commitment to the UAE and its ecosystem only deepens.”
Nationwide growth
Keeta’s expansion has covered Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, alongside continued localisation of its platform to reflect how UAE customers order and the dynamics of an increasingly digital market.
The company said its focus on innovation has included piloting technology and backing every order with its on-time delivery promise.
Supporting merchants and SMEs
Keeta said it has sought to grow alongside restaurants and small businesses that form part of the UAE’s food landscape.
Ahead of its launch, the Keeta UAE Founding Vendor Programme offered merchants zero setup costs, launch visibility and long-term growth tools, allowing them to join the platform from its first day.
Since then, Keeta has onboarded more than 10,000 restaurant and merchant brands, representing more than 40,000 locations across the UAE. Its partners include homegrown favourites such as Harees al fareej and Kuwaiti Cuisine, as well as international brands including Dunkin, Nando’s, WingStop and Papa Johns Pizza.
In 2026, Keeta also launched the UAE edition of Programme ABAAD, an initiative designed to help Emirati-owned F&B SMEs strengthen their readiness for growth in the digital economy.
The programme’s first phase was delivered in collaboration with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Dubai Chambers.
Rider wellbeing
Keeta said its first year also included investment in the safety, wellbeing and recognition of delivery partners.
Across the UAE, the company has introduced a network of air-conditioned hubs and dedicated rider support spaces offering cold drinks and seating during the summer months.
Keeta also collaborated with local authorities on initiatives promoting delivery safety and supporting rider health and wellbeing during the summer.
Supporting local communities
During Ramadan 2026, Keeta introduced KeeShare, an in-app initiative allowing customers to add an extra meal to their order to share with their delivery rider.
The meals were prepared by more than 1,200 participating restaurants across the UAE.
Keeta also collaborated with Ourwatr, a UAE-based water SME, to widen access to locally produced mineral water, with a portion of every bottle directed to community programmes through the Beit Al Khair Society.
More recently, Keeta signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai’s Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation to explore digital donation solutions supporting the “Bread for All” initiative.
The initiative, developed by the Foundation’s Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy, aims to provide fresh bread and hot meals free of charge to eligible beneficiaries through dedicated smart machines operating around the clock.
The collaboration will explore integrating donation options into the Keeta app to help extend the initiative’s reach and strengthen its long-term sustainability.
Focus on long-term UAE presence
As it enters its second year, Keeta said its focus will be on strengthening its foundations by developing technology and services around local needs, deepening merchant and rider partnerships, expanding community collaboration, and continuing to work with government entities and local authorities across the UAE.
“One year is an important milestone, but for us it is still the beginning,” said Xie.
“By working closely with local authorities, merchants, delivery partners and community organisations, our ambition is to keep building Keeta around the people we serve, and to be a trusted, long-term part of the UAE’s technology and delivery ecosystem.”
