¿Prefieres ver esta página en español?
Ver en españolMeituan's international food delivery app, which took its China playbook of free delivery, on-time guarantees and dense rider networks to the Gulf.
At a glance
Keeta takes commissions from restaurants and merchants and charges customers delivery fees, which it often waives to win share. It focuses on restaurant food and local merchants, with heavy launch promotions and a large rider network.
Keeta launched in Hong Kong in May 2023 and reached 44% market share there by May 2024, according to reports.
TechNodeKeeta entered Saudi Arabia in September 2024 in Al Kharj rather than the capital, Riyadh.
KrASIAIn its first year in Saudi Arabia (2025), Keeta handled over 150 million orders across 23 cities, with over 50,000 restaurant partners and over 38,000 drivers.
ArgaamKeeta launched in Dubai in September 2025 and reached all seven emirates within 90 days; by September 2026 it reported over 10,000 restaurant and merchant brands across more than 40,000 UAE locations.
Gulf NewsKeeta's Saudi business was reported to have become profitable in July 2026, with the UAE as its second-largest Middle East market.
Caixin GlobalHow they won
What they did, why it worked, and how you can run the same move in one city on a small budget.
01
What they did
Keeta launched in Saudi Arabia in Al Kharj, a smaller city, instead of Riyadh, then expanded city by city toward national coverage. In the UAE it covered all seven emirates within 90 days of its Dubai launch.
Why it worked
Launching away from the most crowded city let Keeta tune operations before facing incumbents head on.
Copy it locally
Pick the town or district the big apps serve poorly, with slow delivery or few restaurants, and become the best option there first. Expand to the next area only when restaurants and riders are steady.
02
What they did
In Saudi Arabia Keeta offered free delivery at more than 90% of its restaurants and compensated customers when orders ran 15 minutes late. Its CEO named high delivery fees as the main customer pain point.
Why it worked
It attacked the most visible cost for customers and backed reliability with a concrete guarantee.
Copy it locally
Offer free delivery in your core zone above a modest minimum order, and promise a delivery window with a small voucher if you miss it. Only promise what your rider team can actually hit.
03
What they did
In Kuwait in September 2025 Keeta launched with 50% off and free delivery on the first order, and charged no marketing fees to small and medium restaurants. In the UAE its Founding Vendor Programme waived set-up costs.
Why it worked
Removing cost for both customers and small restaurants filled the app quickly on both sides.
Copy it locally
Spend your launch budget on first-order discounts for new customers and free onboarding for the first restaurants, not on broad ads. Cap the offer per customer and set an end date.
04
What they did
In October 2025 Keeta partnered with Dubai Taxi Company, starting with 150 delivery motorbikes and planning 500 by year-end. It also partnered with local institutions on programs for Emirati-owned restaurants.
Why it worked
Partnering with established local fleets and bodies gave Keeta capacity and credibility faster than building alone.
Copy it locally
Sign a local courier company, taxi cooperative or motorbike fleet as your delivery partner instead of hiring every rider. Partner with a business association to recruit restaurants.
Where they are weak
Every giant has blind spots. These are the ones a focused local operator can turn into an advantage.
After Keeta entered Saudi Arabia, some customers reported that menu prices on delivery apps went up. Restaurants passing platform costs to customers creates room for a local app or direct channel that shows menu prices close to in-store prices.
Source: KrASIASaudi Arabia's competition authority has said it monitors whether pricing below cost is used to push out rivals, and a 2026 study linked Keeta's aggressive pricing to the exit of a smaller app. Promotions funded this way can be cut back, while a local operator can compete on service and relationships.
Source: ArgaamReports on Keeta's UAE launch noted that its specific commission rates for restaurants were not disclosed. A local platform that publishes clear, stable pricing can win restaurants that want certainty after launch promotions end.
Source: Communicate OnlineBuild it with Ordering.co
Each of these features is included in every Ordering.co plan.
Ordering.co is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Keeta. Names and trademarks belong to their owners and are used here for commentary and education. Facts come from the public sources listed on this page, checked in October 2026.
Tell us your market and what you want to launch. We will show you how Ordering.co runs the stores, orders, payments and delivery behind it.
