How to Develop a Food Deliver App and its Development Costs & Timeline

• By Smith Joe
• 11-09-2023
• Mobile Apps

Recent technological developments have significantly changed the food delivery industry. Recent technological advancements have significantly changed the food delivery industry. Applications for food delivery have a sizable market. You need to think about a few things if you've considered building one.

This article will explain creating a food-delivery app, cost, and timeframe.

What is an app for food delivery?

Customers may order meals from various restaurants and food enterprises via food delivery apps, which are mobile device applications. Because they make it easier for customers to place food orders from the comfort of their homes, these mobile applications have lately increased in popularity.

The majority of food delivery apps provide simple interfaces that allow customers to examine menus and make selections before making orders. Some apps allow users to view their order history, track their orders live, and save their favorite restaurants and dishes.

Many food delivery apps work in conjunction with restaurants and other food outlets. The app increases exposure and sales for these businesses, and customers enjoy a wide range of options and convenience.

One of the most widely used applications for food delivery in the UAE is Uber Eats. Zomato, Carriage, and Deliveroo are some further examples. Etc. 

How does an app for food delivery work?

The typical way a food delivery app works is as follows:

• A user places an order: CustomerCustomers browse the menus and restaurants to choose the items they wish to order.
• The restaurant receives an order: When a customer orders, the restaurant collects all the required data and prepares the food item.
• The delivery partner collects the order: A delivery partner is assigned, who may be a cyclist or driver to pick up and deliver the item that the consumer bought.
• Delivery Partner delivers the order: After that, the delivery partner delivers the order to the customer's specified address. Some apps let customers track their delivery in real time.
• The process of payments: After the order is delivered, payment processing occurs in the app. Customers can sometimes pay via the app with a debit, credit card, or cash at delivery.

Food delivery apps can offer additional features like restaurant reviews, ratings, discounts, and loyalty programs. The apps may have a system for customer service and feedback.

Food delivery apps are the finest way to get meals delivered directly to your house. Furthermore, they give restaurants a chance to become more visible and increase sales.

Steps to Develop a Food Delivery Application

The following steps are included in the development of our food delivery application:

Step 1 - We meet with the client to discuss the project requirements. We will then do an Industry Analysis and Competitive Set to meet the requirements.

Step 2 - We design the app's wireframe based on the client's requirements.

Step 3 - We will design the project once the wireframe has been completed. We will send the design and the approval to the designated person. (We use Invision for sharing the design so the client can give feedback on the different interface sections via the app).

Step 4 - The Admin Panel will be utilized following the approval of the design.

Step 5 - We will now begin creating the application. Because it is simpler to test and set up, we will start by developing an Android app.

Step 6 - We will present the system to the client after completing the development. We will then gather feedback for any further changes or improvements.

Step 7 - After the development stage is over, we'll integrate the material. Throughout the project's development, the customer is required to submit to us every piece of content required.

Step 8 - After content integration, we will perform the final testing and another security test.

Step 9 - After the APK has passed all testing, we will prepare the design for APK publication.

Step 10 - Once we have approved the Android app, we will begin work on the iOS application.

Popular Food Delivery Apps In Dubai

Dubai has many tourists and residents happy to have food delivered right to their door. Food delivery apps have become more popular in recent years thanks to the COVID-19 epidemic. It has led to an increase in online ordering and contactless options.

The following are some of the most popular apps for food delivery in Dubai:

Talabat

Online marketplace Talabat is a well-known food delivery business with a Kuwaiti base. The organization commenced its operations in the year 2004 and has experienced growth over the years by venturing into various nations in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Talabat lets users browse menus from restaurants, food outlets, and cafes. They can also pay through the platform. The platform offers many features, including customer reviews and promotions, live tracking of orders, and various other options. A well-known brand within the Middle East, Talabat has added significantly to the expansion of the online food delivery industry.

Talabat charges restaurants a commission for every order placed via the platform. The restaurant usually charges delivery fees, but some offer free delivery on orders over a certain amount.

Deliveroo

One of the 12 international locations where Deliveroo, a food delivery service that started in London in 2013 and now operates in more than 2 hundred locations, has extended inside the UAE. The platform offers customers a quick and convenient delivery service by partnering with many restaurants.

Deliveroo follows the same business model as other food delivery apps. Customers may peruse the menus of a variety of restaurants by using the platform's mobile app or website. The consumer may order the things using the platform after picking the items they desire. They can also choose where to have the food delivered.

Deliveroo's delivery rider fleet comprises self-employed individuals who deliver orders using bicycles, motorbikes, or cars. Deliveroo's app allows riders to accept orders, find the delivery location, and update their order status.

Deliveroo offers a variety of features that enhance the overall customer experience. They include customer service, live tracking of orders, and multiple payment methods.

Deliveroo partners with restaurants to provide additional services, such as virtual kitchens. These are concepts of delivery-only that allow restaurants to expand their offering without having to open a physical location. Deliveroo Editions is an example of a program offering restaurants kitchen space to create delivery-only concepts.

Due to its vast selection of restaurants, convenient delivery service, and other features, Deliveroo is a very popular meal delivery platform in the UAE.

Zomato

Zomato, an Indian food delivery business platform, was founded in 2008. Since then, the platform has grown internationally and is currently available in a variety of nations, including the UAE. Zomato encompasses different features that assist customers in finding restaurants, placing orders, and tracking their meals.

Customers may search for restaurants by cuisine, place, and review. Customers can look at the menus, reviews, and pictures uploaded by other customers to help them select where to eat.

After selecting a restaurant, users can order via the platform. Zomato has the option of paying online or in cash upon delivery, with users being able to follow their orders in real time.

Zomato offers more than just food delivery. It also includes table booking, online ordering, and pickup. Zomato Pro is a loyalty program that offers discounts and benefits to subscribers.

Zomato is a very popular platform for food delivery in the UAE. Its simple UI and large restaurant database have made it a fan favorite. It has played an essential influence in the development of the UAE's food-delivery business.

Careem now

Careem Now, launched by Careem in 2018, is a platform for food delivery. Careem is operating in various Middle Eastern nations, including the UAE. Customers of Careem Now have access to a wide selection of restaurants and cuisines as well as a trustworthy and practical food delivery service.

The platform works on the same model as other food delivery apps. Users can browse menus and place orders via mobile app or website. Careem Now offers features like live order tracking and multiple payment options, including cash-on-delivery and online payment.

Careem Now also offers other features that enhance the experience of its customers. Careem Reward, for example, is a rewards program that lets customers accrue points and use them for discounts or free trips. Careem Plus subscription-based service provides consumers with savings and benefits, while their Careem Now service is available in several UAE cities.

Uber Eats

Uber is a ride-hailing company that operates Uber Eats. It is the one type of platform to offers online food delivery.

In a food delivery application, the customer can search for restaurants by location, cuisine, and rating. Also, they can track the food delivery in real-time via an app.

A group of drivers who use their own vehicles to transport food for Uber Eats operates as a community. works with a variety of businesses, including fast-food chains and high-end eateries, to provide clients with a varied selection of alternatives.

Uber Eats has various features that improve the user experience, including in-app promos and different payment choices. It also offers customer support. Uber Rewards is a platform that offers rewards for every order. Users can redeem their points for discounts and free meals.

Uber Eats is a very popular platform for food delivery in the UAE. This is owing to its numerous food alternatives, dependable service, and other benefits. The platform played an important role in the growth of the UAE's food-delivery sector.

App development requirements

There are certain requirements for developing an app that delivers food. The app must function correctly and fulfill specific purposes. Here we will talk about those requirements:

Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting is an internet hosting service that utilizes a network of virtual servers for storing and delivering data, applications, and services. Traditional hosting involves placing a website or application on a single physical server. Cloud hosting is different. In its place, a network of virtual servers that collaborate to offer resources as needed is used.

A method known as "cloud hosting" allows several servers to share resources including processing power, storage, memory, and other computer capabilities. It enables the system to be adaptable, scalable, and dependable. Depending on demand and traffic, hosting providers can then easily add more resources as required to an application, website, or database.

Cloud hosting is an ideal choice for food delivery applications because it provides the flexibility, scalability, and dependability necessary to manage the industry's unpredictable demand and traffic.
These are the main benefits of cloud hosting when it comes to a food-delivery app:

• Scalability: Apps that deliver food often see sudden increases in demand at peak times or during special events. Cloud hosting allows the app to increase or decrease its computing resources as required easily.
• Reliability: To ensure prompt delivery, a food delivery app must be accessible to customers at any time. Cloud hosting is more reliable and has a higher uptime because of its distributed nature.
• Speed: Cloud Hosting enables faster loading times and responses, which is essential for a seamless experience.
• Security: Cloud hosting offers enhanced security and protection from cyber threats, making it an ideal choice for food delivery apps. It is important to protect sensitive customer data, such as payment details, which cloud hosting can provide.
• Cost-effectiveness: Additionally, cloud hosting is cheaper than traditional hosting as customers only pay for what they use.

Scalability and dependability a very crucial factors in choosing a cloud hosting company. There are various companies to provide cloud hosting such as Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure. It provides packages that match your requirements and price range. Allow us to guide you in making the best decision.

SMS Gateway

An SMS gateway allows businesses to send SMS messages from and to mobile devices. It is usually done via an API interface or web interface. An SMS gateway is a service that allows a food delivery application to send updates on orders, confirmations of delivery, and promotional messages.

Here are some things to consider when choosing an SMS provider for your food delivery app:

• Integration: The SMS Gateway provider should be compatible with the technology stack that the app uses.
• Cost: SMS messaging costs vary greatly depending on the service provider and volume.
• Reliability: SMS gateway providers should provide a reliable service with a high uptime to deliver messages promptly.
• Support: Providers should support and assist customers in case of problems or questions.
• Security: The SMS Gateway provider should take measures to protect the customer's data and send messages securely.

We can use the SMS gateway you provide or help you get one such as SMS country, Etisalat ClickSend, etc.

Payment Gateway

Payment gateways are an important component of any food delivery app. They allow customers to make payments securely and conveniently. There are many factors to consider when choosing a payment portal for a food-delivery app:

• Integration: Payment gateways should be compatible with technology stacks used by apps.
• Security: The payment processor should comply with PCI-DSS and provide secure payment processing to protect the customer's information.
• Cost: The price of utilizing a payment gateway may differ significantly depending on the service provider.
• Payment methods supported: A payment gateway must support payment methods that app users, including credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers, preferers.
• Customer Support: Payment gateway providers should provide reliable customer service to answer questions or concerns.

Delivery API Integration

External partners are required if you do not have a delivery team.

Integrating a delivery API into an app for food delivery is crucial to enabling delivery functionality. A Delivery API allows companies to connect to delivery networks to track and manage deliveries, get delivery quotes, and update customers in real-time updates.

Here are a few crucial factors to think about while integrating a delivery API into a mobile food delivery app:

• Integration ease: Integration is simple and straightforward via the Delivery API.
• Delivery Options: The Delivery API must support the delivery methods that the app's target users prefer, including same-day, next-day, and scheduled delivery.
• Tracking notifications: The Delivery API must provide real-time tracking notifications and updates to customers.
• Support, reliability, and uptime: A reliable delivery API provider will ensure the network is always operational and available.

We can integrate popular payment portals like DHL, Aramex, and Jeebly into your app.

The cost of developing a food delivery app

The price of creating a food-delivery app in Dubai ranges from AED 40,000 to AED 60,000. Your app can be made at a low-priced charge by using adjusting to your price range. The actual cost will depend upon the functions and capability of your app.

When developing a food delivery app there are numerous factors that could have an effect on it. Some of the maximum vital factors are:

Platforms and Technologies: Development costs can vary based on the platform and technology used. When Creating an app with iOS and Android can price more than a platform-specific app.

Functionality and Features: As the wide variety of features and functionalities in an app will increase, so will the price. It includes real-time order tracking, push notifications, loyalty packages, and more.

Design & User Experience: App design and user experience will influence the development cost. The development cost may be higher if the app has a sophisticated and complex design.
Integration of Third-Party Services The application may require integration with services such as payment gateways, GPS, and others. It can increase app development costs.

App Size and Complexity: The cost of growing an app is also decided with the aid of its size and complexity. The fee of developing an app may be better if it has multiple roles, such as consumer, driver, or restaurant owner.

Testing & Maintenance: Besides the cost of developing an app, you must factor in testing and maintenance. It is important to factor in this ongoing cost.

The scope of your project will determine the overall cost to develop a food delivery application, the desired features, and the complexity of your app. We can estimate the price if you provide specified specs in your app. Our mobile app developers are dedicated to presenting our clients with price-powerful solutions for mobile applications that grow revenue.

How much time does it usually take to create a food delivery application?

The development duration of a food delivery app is influenced by the complexity of its features and the resources available, for the project.

There are elements that can influence the duration of product development.

Features: The longer your app takes to develop, the more features it has. Some basic features include user registration, menu display, and order placement. To give you some information let me mention a few alternatives that you can consider. These choices involve the option of getting personalized recommendations, in time tailored to your preferences. Furthermore, you are able to connect services and engage with applications.

Platform: Creating an app for one platform takes longer than creating an app that is compatible with both the iOS and Android platforms. For instance, a food delivery app typically consists of two apps. One is for the admin and another, for the user, which ultimately extends the development timeline.

Design: The designing process may additionally affect development time. The creation of unique graphics, animations, and other design components will require more time.

Testing: It is crucial to conduct testing to guarantee that your application is easy to use and dependable. This testing phase can frequently span weeks or months before it is fully completed.

Client feedback: Clients who make changes after the initial development phase will also add time to the app.

Third-party integration: When devel­opers integrate third-party services, like payment gateways and location services, it can add compl­exity to app development. The time required for integ­ration depends on the provided API documentation and its availab­ility.

The overall development time of a food delivery app depends on your specific project requirements. A team of experienced developers can ensure your app is created efficiently and effectively. We can estimate 6-12 weeks to complete the development of an app that delivers food.