- Data analytics
Gulf regulators fix commissions and ban hidden food delivery fees
Gulf watchdogs are fixing commissions, banning hidden fees and enforcing price parity. How menu price data helps delivery platforms stay compliant.
Regulators across the Gulf, led by Kuwait and the UAE, are introducing strict rules to curb hidden fees and discriminatory algorithms in food delivery. The measures aim to protect local restaurants and restore price transparency for consumers in a market expected to hit $4 billion by 2030.
For years, food delivery platforms in the GCC set pricing and visibility with a high degree of autonomy. Algorithms often prioritized restaurants that paid higher commissions or marketing fees, so restaurants inflated their app prices to protect thin margins while platforms took multiple cuts from a single sale. Governments are now intervening. Kuwait has fixed commissions for a three-year period, and the UAE has banned passing subscription costs to merchants.
Menu price parity may be the biggest change. When app prices must match in-store prices, the artificial inflation that sustained platform profitability is under threat. Qatar has already taken a hard line, fining major players for misrepresentation and forcing the opening of permanent customer complaint centers. Saudi Arabia is also signaling limits on extreme subsidies to prevent market distortions. After years of aggressive, subsidy-led growth, delivery giants now face requirements for operational transparency and fair competition.
Compliance now depends on tracking menu prices
Manual audits cannot cover these rules. Platforms and restaurant chains now need to monitor thousands of menu items across multiple regions. Without granular data, a platform might violate a pricing cap by accident, or a restaurant might fail to synchronize its offline and online menus. Data intelligence shows where price gaps exist before a regulator issues a fine.
Opaque pricing models are on their way out as the regulatory environment matures. Automated intelligence lets companies benchmark their rates against market standards and meet new legal requirements across different GCC borders, which now decides their license to operate in a more scrutinized economy as well as their competitive position.
The figure to track is the gap between digital and physical storefronts. Operators that analyze price parity can close it, and a digital menu that reflects the physical one is the first step toward trust with both regulators and customers.
If your menus differ between apps and restaurant counters in GCC markets, contact DoubleData to see where the gaps are.
Source: https://www.agbi.com/analysis/food-drink/2026/02/gulf-watchdogs-get-tough-with-food-delivery-companies/
