Commission rates are set in each partner’s contract and aren’t published as public rate cards. The ranges here come from press reporting. Use your own agreement.
For many UAE restaurants and cafés, delivery apps are now a large share of sales. For salons, clinics and fitness studios, booking platforms play a similar role. The question isn’t whether to use them, but how to use them without giving away your margin and your customers.
What the apps give you
- Discovery: people browsing the app who don’t know you yet
- Delivery logistics (for apps that deliver)
- Trust and convenience: familiar payment, tracking, reviews
- Demand data: what sells, when
What they cost
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Commission per order | Reported in the UAE in a range of roughly 12–35% in 2020 press coverage, depending on the deal, delivery and exclusivity. Your contract is the real number. |
| Promotions and discounts | Often co-funded by you |
| Visibility / sponsored placement | Optional, but can become necessary to stay visible |
| Packaging | Delivery-grade packaging per order |
| Menu price differences | Some businesses price higher on apps to cover commission. Check the platform’s rules. |
Talabat’s own Q1 2026 results, as reported, mentioned lower commission rates and higher customer incentives, so terms are moving. Renegotiate with data.
Work out your margin per app order
For an AED 100 order:
| Item | App order | Direct order |
|---|---|---|
| Food / service cost | −32 | −32 |
| Commission (example 25%) | −25 | 0 |
| Promotion you fund | −5 | 0 |
| Packaging | −3 | −3 |
| Payment fees (card, ~3%) | included | −3 |
| Own delivery or rider cost | included | −12 |
| Margin | 35 | 50 |
Example numbers only. The margin sheet uses yours.
A sensible strategy
- Use apps for discovery. Be on the ones your customers use, with a great listing: photos, descriptions, accurate prep times.
- Make direct ordering easy: a simple ordering or booking page on your website, a WhatsApp order line, and order/booking links on your Google Business Profile where your category supports them.
- Encourage repeat customers to come direct in ways the platform’s terms allow (in-store, on your own channels, loyalty for direct orders). Don’t put flyers in app orders if the contract forbids it.
- Price deliberately across channels within the rules.
- Review quarterly: orders, commission paid, promotion cost and margin by app.
Booking platforms for services
The same logic applies to salons, clinics and studios: platform bookings bring new clients; your own booking page and WhatsApp keep returning clients without commission. Make sure no-show and cancellation rules match across channels.
Frequently asked questions
Should we leave the apps?
Rarely, if they bring real volume. Reduce dependence by growing direct repeat orders instead.
Is exclusivity worth it?
It may lower commission but removes other channels. Model both scenarios before signing.
How do we track direct orders’ source?
Use separate WhatsApp links or QR codes by source, and ask “how did you hear about us?” at first order.
If you’d like help working out your app margins and building direct ordering, that’s part of our aggregators service.
Free download · Excel calculator
App vs direct order margin sheet
Compare margin per order via each delivery or booking app and your direct channel, using your contract's commission, promotion costs, packaging and payment fees.
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