Friends of Momentum Works in Kuwait received a notification yesterday from Keeta, Meituan’s overseas food delivery service, announcing that Keeta would launch in Kuwait at 11:00am local time on September 15 (today):
Kuwait becomes Keeta’s third market in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Keeta is currently also preparing its launch in UAE and Brazil.
To consumers in Kuwait, Keeta promises 50% off first order, free delivery (above 3 KWD), as well as fast delivery.
The Six Gulf Countries
Meituan’s founder Wang Xing previously mentioned that the company plans to expand to more countries in the Middle East this year. The six countries in the Gulf Area (KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman) have a combined population of 60 million, and an average GDP per capita of US$34,000 – slightly higher than Japan and South Korea.
It is also worth noting that the 6 main Southeast Asian markets have 10 times the combined population, but an economy only 1.8 – 2 times that of the Gulf countries. This suggests significantly higher purchasing power in the Gulf.
Kuwait itself sits around the Gulf average in terms of GDP per capita. Among its 5 million residents, roughly 1.5 million are Kuwaiti nationals.
Preparations in the UAE—including rider training—are also in full swing.
Meanwhile, Keeta Drones, Meituan’s overseas drone delivery business, has already obtained licenses and rolled out operations in Dubai.
Competition in Kuwait
Our friends in Kuwait are excited to see what competition Keeta can bring to the market. For now, they mainly use Talabat and Deliveroo — but consider both expensive (delivery fees range between 0.5 and 1.5 KWD, or about US$1.64 – 4.91).
In addition, Saudi-listed company Jahez also operates a food delivery business in Kuwait.
On September 10, a few days before launch, Keeta had already risen to No.1 in the food and beverage category of Kuwait’s app store rankings, surpassing Talabat, KFC, and Deliveroo.
Riders & restaurants
On the rider side, several partner companies are actively recruiting riders for Keeta. For example, one recruiter offered the following terms:
- A base salary of 250 Kuwaiti dinars (about US$819)
- No delivery targets
- 10 hours of work per day, 4 days off per month
- The company provides vehicles, fuel, phone, and data
Some restaurants that received early promotional deals have already started advertising enthusiastically.
For instance, Fishdoor, a local restaurant, has posted promotions to highlight its Keeta partnership:
As more consumers, riders and restaurants join the Keeta ecosystem in Kuwait, the next few weeks would be interesting to watch.
You can also make reference to the following Momentum Works reports for more:
- Food Delivery Platforms in Southeast Asia 2025Chinese F&B in Southeast AsiaEcommerce in Southeast Asia 2025
The post Meituan’s Keeta Food Delivery Lands in Kuwait: Third Stop in the Middle East first appeared on The Low Down - Momentum Works.
