MUSCAT: Talabat, the easy word connoting ‘orders’ in Arabic, is the name of a leading online food delivery service that has hit Oman by culinary storm.

Founded in 2004 by a group of young entrepreneurs, Talabat has since become the largest food ordering and delivery platform in the region, covering Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Oman.

Having operated for years as the leader in neighbouring countries, Talabat has also been embraced by Omanis, becoming the nation’s number one online food delivery service. Running successfully in Oman since 2012, it plans to expand to more cities in the Sultanate, reinforcing its position as a national player in the food delivery market segment. The latest addition to Talabat’s delivery footprint is Salalah, which will soon be followed by Sohar later this year.

GO, Talabat’s own delivery service

Responding to customers’ needs, Talabat launched its own delivery service – GO – with the aim of delivering customers’ orders to their addresses as quickly as possible, with the ability to track orders live. Equipped with an ever-growing fleet of 300 cards and trained delivery drivers, Talabat ensures timely delivery to its hungry customers. Talabat has also recently expanded GO to cover Salalah. Restaurants available on GO offer a variety of trendy cuisines, as well as the all-time favorites.

The nation loves good food and Talabat ensures that it leaves no stones unturned in terms of making it easy for people to choose, order, pay for and eat fresh food. Talabat efficiently takes care of customers’ desire to receive food fresh and warm, with special hot and cold food bags used to transport the orders.

Over 500 restaurants

In Oman, Talabat offers customers the convenience to choose from over 30 cuisines delivered by over 500 restaurants, including international chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Hardees, and Subway, as well as several well-loved local and regional brands, such as Dice, Change Burger & More, and Karak Gholam, all from the comfort of one’s home. In terms of number of orders, Talabat’s most popular cuisines are American and Asian cuisine. However, Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisine, including Iranian and Turkish, have also seen a positive surge as well, with restaurants continuously joining Talabat. Talabat noticed that most orders are placed during the weekend, specifically between 1 pm and 3 pm then 6 pm and 9 pm.

With services offered through the website and mobile app available for both iOS and Android, users can filter by cuisine, browse menus and place orders. Users can also browse by filter cards including Omani Favorites, Special Offers, and Free Delivery, find out the best-selling dishes at each eatery, and read user reviews. Added to this is the convenience of payment options, including cash and credit card, as well as the availability of food from vendors who don’t normally offer delivery.