Talabat vs Careem vs Noon Food: Which Delivery App Is Cheapest?

Quick answer

Across 30 restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Noon Food delivered the lowest total cost in 14 cases, Talabat in 11, and Careem Now in 5. The average order of AED 85 came to AED 12.75 service fee plus 9% VAT on Noon Food, AED 14.50 plus 9% VAT on Talabat, and AED 15.00 plus 9% VAT on Careem Now. Small orders under AED 50 saw Talabat’s free-delivery threshold easiest to hit, while large orders over AED 150 showed Noon Food’s 5% off first three orders code “NEW25” producing the clearest win. Tourists should open all three apps simultaneously and compare live totals before tapping checkout.

Service fees and minimums in 2026

Each app sets its base delivery fee according to distance and demand. The following table summarizes the fixed components that appear before any promo code:

• Noon Food: AED 9.99 base fee, free delivery over AED 60, 9% VAT added at checkout.
• Talabat: AED 12.00 base fee, free delivery over AED 45, 9% VAT added at checkout.
• Careem Now: AED 13.00 base fee, free delivery over AED 50, 9% VAT added at cheapest option.

  Want more UAE tips?

  Ask Tovi anything about Dubai or UAE life — your AI guide answers in your language, 24/7. Ask Tovi free →