Wassim Makarem, VP of Q-Commerce at talabat, says the company has 20 talabat marts across the UAE, operating in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, and 52 across the region. Image: supplied
Wassim Makarem, VP of Q-Commerce at talabat, says the company has 20 talabat marts across the UAE, operating in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, and 52 across the region. Image: supplied
Wassim Makarem, VP of Q-Commerce at talabat, says the company has 20 talabat marts across the UAE, operating in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, and 52 across the region. Image: supplied
Wassim Makarem, VP of Q-Commerce at talabat, says the company has 20 talabat marts across the UAE, operating in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, and 52 across the region. I

From e-commerce to q-commerce: The rise of the 30 minutes or less delivery


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  • Arabic

In the late 20th century, and early 21st, traditional e-commerce revolutionised the delivery landscape through online ordering. As we are all familiar with, as consumers, we can order our goods online, and have them delivered in many cases within a week, and in some cases, overnight delivery.

E-Commerce is famous for using delivery trucks and mega warehouses to host a wide selection of the products, so that they can offer the convenience of home-delivery to consumers.

q-commerce allows our riders to deliver goods to customers almost instantly, by working between a network of small centralised hubs that are strategically placed in different areas of cities where we operate

However, here at talabat, we understood consumers wanted to be able to order grocery items faster, i.e. in 30 minutes or less. Therefore, we launched talabat mart, our q-commerce solution, within our app in the UAE in March last year, just before the pandemic, after a successful launch in Kuwait in 2019.

We now have 20 talabat marts across the UAE, operating in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, and 52 across the region.

In essence, q-commerce allows our riders to deliver goods to customers almost instantly, by working between a network of small centralised hubs that are strategically placed in different areas of cities where we operate. Through creating the value of speed, and at the same price point as a more traditional option, customers are understanding that it is the smart choice.

Image: supplied
Image: supplied

When you look more into the smart choice element - the fact that talabat helped to ensure people stayed safe and home during the pandemic, and as life is returning to a higher sense of normality here in the UAE, with more and more citizens and residents enjoying the benefits of vaccination from COVID-19, it has had a lasting impact, you can see why consumers now expect speed and effortless ordering.

Our data shows that in these areas, we are delivering. Over 60% of our deliveries with talabat mart are below 20 minutes - well below our 30 minute aim, with the quickest delivery time of 7 minutes! If we think how long it takes to go down to leave home, go down the lift, get the kids in the car, and out of the parking building - that’s already 20 minutes! It’s easy to see how this convenience adds time back to many people’s lives!

We also have a lot of other interesting data points! Since the start of the pandemic we have sold in excess of 70,000kgs of oranges, as people look toward more immunity boosting ingredients, and in Q3 of 2020 we have also sold over 50,000 boxes of nappies - definitely something that many parents might need in 30 mins or less! Groceries are just the beginning at talabat mart - we are exploring expanding our q-commerce offering to electronic gadgets, sports equipment, beauty products and much more in the near future.

Since the start of the pandemic we have sold in excess of 70,000kgs of oranges, as people look toward more immunity boosting ingredients, and we have also sold over 50,000 boxes of nappies - definitely something that many parents might need in 30 mins or less!

To make all of this happen, we are relying on our innovative platform, the strong fleet we have built over the years and the massive local investments in technology we made to be the fastest and the most reliable option in the market.

Apart from the dedicated delivery-only hubs, to enable non-grocery offerings traditional stores will be added to the mix. What is great about Q-commerce is that it enables local SMEs to ship directly from their stores without the need to ship their products to central warehouses. A rider will show up, pick up a product from the local SME and deliver it directly to customers - presenting a win-win scenario for both local SMEs and nearby customers.

Hopefully I've convinced you to be part of the next generation of q-commerce users. If so, open your talabat app, and experience talabat Mart in the groceries section, today!

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

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How it works

Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.

Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.

As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.

A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.

Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.

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MATCH INFO

Borussia Dortmund 0

Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')

Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Results

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri

Third Test

Result: India won by 203 runs

Series: England lead five-match series 2-1

The specs: McLaren 600LT

Price, base: Dh914,000

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm

Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

SERIE A FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm) 
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)

Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)