Deliveroo opens its largest 'dark kitchen' in the world on Hessa Street, Dubai

The new site has 12 kitchens and is only 300 metres away from a second site in the area

Some Talabat riders refused to work on Monday amid calls for higher wages. Victor Besa / The National

Riders pictured at a road traffic safety training session. Riders called for payments per delivery to be raised by Dh7.5 as petrol prices rise

Riders in most companies are employed by outside agencies rather than the food apps directly. Pawan Singh / The National 

Deliveroo is one of several major food delivery operators in the UAE, a fast growing market. Photo: Deliveroo. 

It has expanded significantly to run 'dark kitchens' and use thousands of riders, many supplied by outside agencies. Photo: Deliveroo

Dark kitchens are now a familiar site around the city, with a large facility on the Hessa Street junction. Photo: Deliveroo

Food delivery is an increasingly competitive business with companies trying to serve food faster and over wider areas. Photo: Deliveroo

Deliveroo reported a 114 per cent global increase in orders in the first three months of 2021, compared to the same period last year. Photo: Deliveroo

Deliveroo general manager for the GCC, Anis Harb. Photo: Deliveroo

Food delivery company Deliveroo says its newest “dark kitchen” in Dubai is its largest in the world.

The Deliveroo Editions hub, on Hessa Street, will prepare dishes on behalf of more than a dozen restaurants featured on the food delivery platform and send them out to customers.

“Since our first Editions launch in 2017, Deliveroo has spearheaded the off-site, delivery-only kitchen space in the UAE,” said Anis Harb, the company's general manager in the Middle East.

“Editions kitchens have proven to be a great way to help our restaurant partners expand without the up-front investment.

“It is inspiring to see how much this market has grown since our first site, and with this launch we aim to remain at the forefront of this industry.”

The kitchen will serve customers in Al Quoz, Arabian Ranches, Al Barsha South, Jumeirah Village Circle, Studio City, Sports City, IMPZ and Motor City, as well as at Madinat Jumeirah.

It is the second dark kitchen Deliveroo has opened on Hessa Street. It also has bases on Business Bay and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Food delivery firms around the world say business has increased since the onset of the pandemic.

Deliveroo reported a 114 per cent global increase in orders in the first three months of 2021, compared with the same period last year.

“With an entire infrastructure in place dedicated to delivery, we ensure quicker dispatch and delivery times,” said Fadel Belmahdi, head of Editions Middle East at Deliveroo.

“We continue to perfect this model every day and are confident in the potential of our new site.”

Mr Belmahdi said the pandemic had led to the company's expansion of the dark kitchen concept.

“We at Deliveroo were some of the very first to invest in the ‘dark kitchens’ concept in 2017,” he said.

“We have only expanded our operations since then and the pandemic has further accelerated our plans for this space.”