Careem Now vs Talabat vs Deliveroo: Which Is Cheapest?

Delivery fees in 2026

Base delivery fees start at AED 5 on Careem Now for orders over AED 35, AED 7 on Talabat for orders over AED 40, and AED 8 on Deliveroo for orders over AED 50. These amounts apply in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; Sharjah adds AED 2 to each platform.

Service fees and promotions

Careem Now charges a flat AED 3 service fee plus 5 percent of the order value. Talabat adds AED 2.50 and Deliveroo adds AED 4. All three run weekly AED 10 off coupons that appear in the app after two completed orders. Talabat currently offers the most frequent free-delivery vouchers for orders above AED 60.

Price differences by food category

Fast-food chains cost the same across platforms, but independent restaurants mark up menus differently. On average, Talabat shows the lowest menu prices for Emirati and Indian dishes while Careem Now lists lower prices for healthy bowls and Deliveroo is cheapest for sushi and desserts. Always check the final total before confirming.

Peak-hour and weather surcharges

During 12 pm to 3 pm and 7 pm to 10 pm, Careem Now adds AED 4, Talabat adds AED 3, and Deliveroo adds AED 5. When temperatures exceed 42 °C, all platforms apply an extra AED 2 heat surcharge that lasts until midnight. These charges appear before you pay.

Which platform wins for most expats

For daily AED 40 meals in Dubai, Talabat usually totals AED 3 to AED 5 less than Careem Now and AED 6 to AED 8 less than Deliveroo. In Abu Dhabi the gap narrows to AED 2. In Sharjah, Careem Now edges ahead by AED 1 on orders above AED 55. Track your own orders for two weeks to confirm the pattern in your area.

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