Start and Establishment:
Talabat was founded in 2004 in Kuwait by a group of young entrepreneurs led by Khaled Al-Otaibi. The company started as an online platform aiming to provide food delivery services from restaurants to customers in an easy and fast way. The idea came at a time when food delivery applications were not popular in the region, which made it a pioneer in this field.

The beginning was modest, as the team relied on a small number of employees and drivers, and faced difficulties in convincing restaurants to join their platform. But they realized that the market needed this type of service, especially with the increasing reliance on the Internet in daily life.

Challenges in the beginning:
Talabat faced major challenges in its early stages. The biggest of these challenges was building trust between customers and restaurants, and convincing people to use a new platform that was not yet familiar. It also faced technical problems related to developing the website and application, in addition to difficulties in managing logistics and delivery operations, especially during peak times. Also, competition was limited at first, but it quickly increased with the emergence of other companies in the market, which prompted Talabat to constantly improve its services to maintain its position.

Innovation and Expansion:
To excel in a challenging market, Talabat focused on innovation and delivering a superior user experience. It invested heavily in technology, developing an easy-to-use app that allowed customers to choose their meals and track their orders in real time. It also improved its delivery services to be faster and more accurate, with a focus on customer service and immediate problem resolution. Talabat began expanding from Kuwait to other Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Bahrain, and then to North African countries such as Egypt and Jordan. This regional expansion helped strengthen the company’s position as one of the leading food delivery platforms in the Middle East.

Partnerships and Acquisitions:
Talabat has always been looking for opportunities to expand and grow. In 2015, Rocket Internet acquired the company, helping it enter a new phase of growth with investment and technical support. Later, the global company Delivery Hero acquired Talabat in a major deal, strengthening its position and increasing its competitiveness. Talabat has benefited from these acquisitions not only in terms of funding, but also in terms of global expertise in operations management and technology, enabling it to provide a better and more efficient service.

Future Success and Expansion:
Today, Talabat is one of the largest food delivery platforms in the Middle East and North Africa, serving millions of customers daily. The company has successfully expanded its services to include grocery delivery, daily essentials, and even medicines, making it a comprehensive online shopping platform. Talabat has continued to innovate by introducing new technologies such as using artificial intelligence to improve delivery processes, electronic payments, and data analysis to enhance user experience. It has also launched sustainable initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its operations, such as reducing the use of plastic in packaging.

Benefit and Results:
Talabat’s success has not only been limited to financial gains, but has also contributed to changing the concept of food delivery and shopping in the region. It has become a role model for startups on how to deal with challenges, innovate, and successfully expand into new markets. Talabat’s story is an inspiring example of how a simple idea can turn into a giant project through innovation, adapting to challenges, and focusing on constantly meeting customer needs.