Talabat UAE said that operations were disrupted on Monday night as riders refused to make food deliveries amid calls for higher wages.
The operator said riders, who are employed by third-party agencies, had announced they intended to refuse to work.
It said action was originally planned in advance for Tuesday and that it was liaising with the authorities to find a solution. An unspecified number of riders appeared to have brought that forward to Monday.
We understand economic realities are changing constantly and we will always continue to listen to what riders have to say
Tabalat UAE statement
Images on social media appeared to show at least dozens of riders and their bikes parked outside Talabat kitchens. The company said it was doing what it could to fulfil customer orders.
Monday night's action, which would be against the law if classed as striking or industrial action by the authorities, follows a similar situation last week with global delivery company Deliveroo, which reversed plans to cut the fee it pays for each food drop-off by nearly 15 per cent.
"Talabat is committed to ensure that riders can continue to rely on our platform in order to provide for their families, having decent stable gross monthly earnings of around Dh3,500 on average," Talabat UAE told The National.
Its statement claimed that organisers had encouraged riders to sign on for shifts remotely, then to “stay in your room” at their accommodation.
Talabat said it uses about 20,000 riders nationwide. It was unclear how many were involved in the action, but it appeared to be far fewer.
Riders said they were paid about Dh7.50 to deliver each order, and that rising petrol prices was a factor in dwindling earnings.
That is lower than the Dh10.25 an order that Deliveroo pays, which it had planned to cut to Dh8.75.
On social media, riders said they needed at least Dh10 an order to get by.
Talabat claimed compact operating areas allow riders to maximise their earnings by cutting out long journeys and waiting times.
"Until last week, rider pay satisfaction was well above 70 per cent and we haven't updated our payment model recently," the company said.
"We understand economic and political realities are changing constantly and we will always continue to listen to what riders have to say."
Talabat is the Middle East delivery unit of German multinational Delivery Hero and has operations across the Middle East.
In March, Talabat struck a surprise deal with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to become its brand ambassador.
The Manchester United player and Portugal national team captain was pictured wearing a Talabat sweatshirt. How much Ronaldo was paid for the deal not was revealed.
Separately, Deliveroo UAE last week said it was investigating claims that third party agencies had made riders pay for their own visas, which is against federal law.
Some riders said medical insurance, which is mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but not in the Northern Emirates, was not provided by some rider agencies.
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
Alan Rushbridger, Canongate
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Other IPL batting records
Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell
Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)
Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar
Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle
Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir
Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
