Below is a concise comparison of the main food-delivery services available in the UAE (market players, strengths, fees, coverage, speed, extras). I cite recent sources for the most important claims so you can verify current details.

Summary — who’s active

• Talabat — Major local/region-wide player; strong restaurant selection, grocery (Talabat Mart) and many promos. (Talabat.com)
• Careem Food (Careem) — Fast-growing challenger (Careem “Everything App”) with rides/payments integrated; expanded across UAE cities including Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Good grocery and grocery-to-restaurant integration via Careem app. (zawya.com)
• Deliveroo (operating under Deliveroo brand in UAE; now part of DoorDash after acquisition) — known for timely deliveries and premium restaurant partnerships; acquisition/ownership change announced in 2025. App still in market but ownership moved to DoorDash. (Deliveroo.ae)
• Zomato — historically present in UAE as restaurant discovery; Zomato’s UAE food-delivery business was sold to Talabat (so Zomato is not a primary food-delivery operator in UAE like Talabat/Careem/Deliveroo). (en.wikipedia.org)

Comparison by category

1. Coverage & market presence

• Talabat: Widest coverage across emirates and many suburbs; strong network of restaurants + Talabat Mart for quick grocery/everyday items. Good presence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates. (Talabat.com)
• Careem Food: Rapid expansion (launched in Abu Dhabi 2024, Al Ain 2025) — growing coverage, part of Careem’s suite (rides/payments/groceries). Good for users already using Careem for other services. (zawya.com)
• Deliveroo: Strong in urban pockets (premium restaurants, quick urban coverage); still used in Dubai/Abu Dhabi where available. Ownership changed to DoorDash (2025) which may affect product/offerings over time. (Deliveroo.ae)

2. Fees & pricing

• Common model: base delivery fee + distance/ surge/peak fees + platform/service fees; fees vary by time, distance, order size. (All platforms display delivery charges at checkout and may apply surge fees.) Zomato’s terms explicitly note variable delivery & surge fees — same principle applies across platforms. (Zomato.com)
• Subscriptions/benefits: Talabat and local platforms frequently run promotions and subscription bundles (varies by city/period). Careem and Deliveroo also offer memberships/credits or promotions; check each app for current plans and promo codes. (Platform fees and membership programs change periodically.) (Talabat.com)

3. Speed & reliability

• Talabat: Many restaurants use Talabat’s logistics or partner couriers; typical urban delivery times vary 20–45 minutes depending on restaurant/traffic. Talabat Mart often advertises very fast (20–30 min) delivery windows in metro areas. (Talabat.com)
• Careem Food: Emphasizes on-time delivery and cross-service integration — reported fast grocery and food deliveries during peak periods (company data/releases). (caterermiddleeast.com)
• Deliveroo: Known for reliable, often faster urban delivery due to dedicated rider fleet and optimized logistics; still a go-to for premium/central restaurants. Acquisition by DoorDash may lead to tech/logistics changes but apps remain in-market. (Deliveroo.ae)

4. Restaurant selection & cuisine variety

• Talabat: Very large catalogue including local chains, international brands, independents — strong breadth. Also offers groceries, pharmacies and quick commerce. (Talabat.com)
• Careem Food: Gaining many partnerships as it expands; good mix of mainstream and local options, plus in-app promos and bundled offers. (zawya.com)
• Deliveroo: Often partners with higher-end and trend-focused restaurants (depends on city). Good for curated/premium options. (theguardian.com)

5. Grocery / quick commerce

• Talabat Mart: Quick-commerce grocery offering (promoted delivery within short windows). Talabat also integrates non-food retail. (Talabat.com)
• Careem Groceries / Careem Food: Careem has grocery capability and reported strong grocery order growth; part of the Everything App approach. (caterermiddleeast.com)
• Deliveroo: In some markets has offered grocery/market services (market availability varies by city). Check local app for Deliveroo Market / grocery options. (Deliveroo.ae)

6. Payments & app features

• All major apps accept card payments, Apple/Google Pay (depending on device), and local wallets (Careem Pay integrated). Careem’s ecosystem advantage: rides, deliveries and payments in one app. Talabat and Deliveroo also offer in-app promos, tracking, and order scheduling. (blog.Careem.com)

7. Promotions, loyalty & corporate

• Talabat: Frequent promos, restaurant-specific deals, and periodic free-delivery offers. Talabat Mart runs its own discounts. (Talabat.com)
• Careem: Runs campaigns, charity tie-ins and loyalty features via Careem app; corporate/large-order options available. (travelsdubai.com)
• Deliveroo: Often runs restaurant-specific promos and premium membership options where available; changes possible following DoorDash acquisition. (theguardian.com)

Which to pick (quick guidance)

• Want widest selection + big promo ecosystem: Talabat. (Talabat.com)
• Already use Careem (rides/payments) and want integrated experience (rides + food + groceries): Careem Food. Good for expanding cities (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain). (zawya.com)
• Looking for premium restaurant options and fast urban delivery: Deliveroo (note: now part of DoorDash acquisition — experience may evolve). (Deliveroo.ae)
• Zomato: if your focus is delivery in UAE, Talabat acquired Zomato’s UAE delivery business — so use Talabat/Careem/Deliveroo for ordering rather than Zomato delivery. Zomato remains useful for discovery/reviews. (en.wikipedia.org)

Notes & caveats

• Fees, membership plans, delivery speed, and exact city coverage change frequently — check each app for the live checkout price and delivery window before ordering. (I cited current company communications/articles above; specifics can shift quickly.) (Talabat.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Compare prices and delivery fees for a specific city/neighborhood in the UAE (e.g., Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Abu Dhabi Corniche) for the same restaurant or dish right now (I’ll check live app/website prices).
• Or summarize pros/cons for delivery for a specific use case (family order, late-night, diet-specific, corporate catering).

Which follow-up would you prefer?