The worldwide online food delivery market will surpass $314.3 billion by 2032. You can enter this faster growing industry by developing a food delivery app like Jahez, which shows massive potential.
Jahez's success speaks volumes - it has gained over 5 million downloads on Google Play Store. The company's valuation exceeded $2 billion after its IPO. This Saudi success story demonstrates the incredible chances in this sector. A food delivery app like Jahez needs an investment between $40,000 to $500,000+, based on your requirements. Experts predict that these platforms will serve over 19 million users by 2029.
Success doesn't come from merely copying features. Your app needs to match Jahez's smooth, hassle-free experience that made it successful in Saudi Arabia. A food delivery application brings two key benefits: excellent customer service and multiple profit channels.
This piece explains the step-by-step process to create your own Jahez-like app. You'll learn about the original market research, deployment strategies, core features, technology requirements, development costs, and proven methods to compete in this booming market.
Your food delivery app idea can become a reality. Let's begin!
Understanding the Jahez Model
Jahez has reshaped the scene of food delivery in Saudi Arabia since 2016. The company's growth from a local startup to a food delivery unicorn teaches valuable lessons to anyone who wants to develop a food delivery app like Jahez.
What makes Jahez successful in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's demographics create ideal conditions for food delivery apps. A tech-savvy generation with growing disposable income drives the need for convenient dining solutions, as 70% of the population is under 40 years old. The country's 98% internet penetration and 97% smartphone ownership lay the foundation for Jahez's soaring win.
Jahez targets the premium segment, users who pay more for reliable service, unlike competitors who rely on discounts to attract customers. This strategy leads to higher basket sizes and order frequencies without depending on discounts for customer acquisition.
Jahez's logistics arm, Logi, gives the company a clear advantage. Logi helps you retain control over delivery speed and service quality, while competitors depend on third-party delivery drivers. This comprehensive approach results in faster deliveries and better customer experiences.
The platform connects customers to local restaurants through an easy-to-use interface that prioritizes quick delivery and wide restaurant selection. Live order tracking, multiple payment options, and dedicated customer support also boost the user experience.
Key statistics and user behavior trends
Jahez has delivered over 100 million meals through 19,900 merchants and 52,400 delivery partners since it started. The company now serves customers in more than 100 cities across three countries, reaching 95% of Saudi Arabia's population as of 2023.
User participation numbers stand out. Users who place more than 10 orders monthly generate over 50% of Jahez's orders. The company averages 5 orders per month per user, one of the highest rates worldwide in food delivery.
Order volumes through Jahez, PIK, and Blu apps hit 85 million in 2023, growing by 21.8%. The gross revenue jumped by 14.8% to SAR 1.9 billion. The active user base grew beyond 3.5 million by year-end.
Saudi Arabia's food delivery market should reach USD 8.22 billion by 2030, with an 18.42% CAGR. Busy lifestyles and the efficiency of digital platforms over traditional dining drive this growth.
Why entrepreneurs are replicating the model
Jahez's financial performance has made it a model for aspiring entrepreneurs. The company's USD 2.4 billion IPO in 2022 made it Saudi Arabia's first venture capital-backed tech startup to go public.
Jahez expanded its reach from 22 to 47 cities before its IPO, capturing 28% of the country's food delivery market. The customer base surged by 67%, from 1.3 million to 2.4 million users in just 15 months.
The company makes money through restaurant commissions, delivery fees, subscription plans, and advertising. Advertising revenue alone grew by 60.8% year-over-year in H1 2025, thanks to new ad products.
Jahez stands out by balancing growth with profitability. The company reported a 38% increase in net profit and 24% growth in adjusted EBITDA in H1 2025. This profitability shows the business model works well, which is rare in the high-burn startup world.
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Core Features of a Jahez-like Food Delivery App
A successful food delivery platform needs the right mix of features that work together smoothly. The right features can boost user participation, get more restaurants on board, and make deliveries run better. Let's look at what you need to build a food delivery app like Jahez.
User-side features
The app's success depends on how customers experience it. Search and filtering helps users find restaurants by cuisine, price, ratings, and dietary priorities. Clear menu presentation with quality images, detailed descriptions, and ingredient details makes customers more likely to order.
Order customization lets customers change ingredients, add toppings, or tell restaurants how they want their food prepared. Real-time tracking shows users where their order is from kitchen to delivery.
Users need multiple payment options including digital wallets, credit cards, and cash on delivery. Order history that lets customers reorder with one click helps bring them back. Reviews and ratings help users choose better and give restaurants valuable feedback.
More user features include:
- Updates and deals through push notifications
- Save multiple addresses to order from anywhere
- Talk or chat with drivers and support team
- Quick delivery options like "Leave at door"
- Programs that reward loyal customers
Restaurant-side features
Restaurants need tools to run their business well. Order management lets them handle incoming orders and update preparation status. This helps kitchens work smoothly and deliver food on time.
Menu management gives restaurants control to change items, prices, and what's available. This stops orders for sold-out items and keeps everything current. Profile management helps update basic details, working hours, and delivery areas.
Analytics and reporting shows data through easy-to-read graphs and charts. Restaurants can see what sells best, when they're busiest, and who their customers are.
Promotional capabilities help create special deals to bring in more customers. This helps both restaurants and the app grow as more people order.
Delivery agent features
Delivery partners connect restaurants with customers. Order management shows drivers available orders with customer locations and special notes. GPS integration helps find the best routes to delivery spots.
Availability settings let drivers choose when to work. This helps them balance work and life while making sure busy times have enough drivers. Earnings tracking shows completed deliveries and payment details.
In-app communication lets drivers reach customers or restaurants if needed. Status updates tell everyone when orders are picked up and delivered.
Admin panel capabilities
The admin panel works as the platform's control center. User management controls accounts for customers, restaurants, and drivers. Order tracking shows every order on the platform.
Content management lets admins update restaurant information, menu items, and prices. Analytics dashboards display how well deliveries arrive on time, how happy customers are, and how productive drivers are.
Promotional tools create platform-wide offers, coupons, and loyalty programs. Push notification management helps communicate updates, promotions, or service changes.
Step-by-Step Process to Build an App Like Jahez
Building a food delivery app like Jahez needs a well-planned approach. The global online food delivery market should hit USD 618.36 billion by 2030, with a 9.0% CAGR from 2025. Here's how to break down the development process.
1. Market research and competitor analysis
You need to study how people order food in your target area, their peak ordering times, and the problems they face with current apps. Get into your competitors' pricing, delivery speeds, app reviews, and missing features. Research shows the food delivery industry keeps growing thanks to urbanization, lifestyle changes, and widespread smartphone use.
Your research should focus on local food priorities, potential restaurant partnerships, and delivery challenges in your target area. This groundwork helps you avoid building just another generic app and create something people actually want.
2. Define your app's core functionality
Once you've analyzed the market, list the essential features for your MVP. Focus on the most important functions for three main user types:
- Customers: Restaurant search, menu browsing, order placement, payment options, and real-time tracking
- Restaurants: Order management, menu updates, profile management
- Delivery partners: Order alerts, navigation, status updates
- Admin: User management, analytics, content management
Focusing on these core features helps prevent confusion later and keeps development on track. Note that too many features at the start can make the app harder to use.
3. Choose the right tech stack
Your choice of technology stack will affect your app's performance, growth potential, and maintenance costs. Here are the key components to think over:
Frontend development: React Native or Flutter for cross-platform development can save time and money by letting you build for iOS and Android at once.
Backend development: Node.js works great for real-time applications, Django comes with built-in admin panels, or Laravel/Symfony suits PHP developers.
Database: MongoDB handles fast-processing dynamic data like order statuses, PostgreSQL fits complex applications, and MySQL offers balanced performance and functionality.
Cloud services: AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure provide expandable solutions that keep things running smoothly during peak times.
4. Design UI/UX for all user roles
Apps with poor design lose customers fast. About 35% of users switch apps just because they can't read restaurant menus clearly. You need a clean interface with enough white space, consistent design elements, and user-friendly navigation.
Key design principles to follow:
- Quick onboarding with fewer sign-up fields
- Mobile-responsive design (over 70% of food orders happen on mobile devices)
- Individual-specific experiences based on user priorities
- Clear pricing and transparent fees
5. Develop backend and frontend
This stage brings your app to life. The backend handles order processing, stores user information, and manages real-time communication. Development should happen in sprints using agile methodology for quick iterations and feedback.
Frontend development creates application pages for all users and implements the designs. Backend work should focus on building APIs that connect to your database and third-party services like payment gateways and mapping.
6. Test and deploy the MVP
Your app needs full testing under different conditions before launch. QA engineers should check performance under heavy loads, usability on different devices, and look for security issues.
Start small with a limited service area to test operations, control delivery quality, and fix issues before growing. This helps you confirm your concept without spending too much.
After testing, publish your app on Google Play and Apple Store, and watch it closely in the first few weeks. Real-life conditions often show problems that testing misses.
Cost to Develop a Food Delivery App Like Jahez
Building a food delivery app like Jahez needs different levels of financial investment based on many factors. A clear understanding of these costs helps you plan your budget and avoid surprises.
Basic, moderate, and advanced app cost ranges
Food delivery apps' costs fall into three categories based on their complexity and features:
Basic MVP Solution: A simple version with core features costs about $10,000-$40,000. This starter option has user registration, restaurant listings, ordering functions, simple payment integration, and delivery tracking. These apps support just one platform (iOS or Android) which keeps costs down.
Mid-Range Application: More complete solutions with better features cost between $40,000-$100,000. This level has everything from the basic version plus up-to-the-minute order tracking, user reviews, promo codes, and a simple admin panel. These apps work on both major platforms through cross-platform development frameworks.
Advanced Enterprise Platform: Full-featured apps with sophisticated functions like Jahez typically cost $80,000-$250,000+. Complex systems with AI recommendations, advanced logistics, and enterprise security can reach $300,000 or more. These apps feature native development, support multiple languages, run loyalty programs, and provide detailed analytics.
Development time estimates by complexity
App complexity and investment directly affect development timeline:
- Basic MVP: Takes about 3-4 months from idea to launch. The schedule splits into 2-4 weeks of planning, 4-6 weeks of UI/UX design, 10-16 weeks of development, and 4-6 weeks of testing.
- Mid-Range Solution: Needs 4-6 months to finish. This timeline covers all basic development phases plus extra time to build complex features and test across platforms.
- Advanced Platform: Takes 8-12+ months for full development. Enterprise solutions need additional time for load testing, performance tuning, and adding advanced features like AI recommendations.
Each complexity level needs different team sizes. Basic apps might work with 1 product manager, 1 designer, 2 developers and 1 QA specialist. Advanced platforms need larger teams with data engineers, security experts, and SRE specialists.
Formula to estimate total cost
The simple formula to calculate app development costs is:
Total Development Cost = Hourly Rate × Development Hours
Location affects hourly rates:
- North America: $120-$220 per hour
- Western Europe: $90-$140 per hour
- Eastern Europe: $45-$75 per hour
- South Asia (India, Pakistan): $25-$50 per hour
Building from scratch needs 500-850 hours. The same app could cost $105,000 in North America but only $30,000 in South Asia.
The final cost depends on:
- Platform choice (iOS, Android, or both)
- Design complexity and customization
- Third-party integrations
- Security requirements
Factors That Influence Development Cost
Building a food delivery app like Jahez involves several factors that determine the total cost. You need to understand these variables to make smart decisions about your investment.
Design complexity
Your food delivery app's visual appeal plays a vital role in keeping users engaged. Users tend to abandon poorly designed apps no matter how good the features are. The design costs depend on:
- Template vs. custom design: Template designs provide quick and cheaper options but might look similar to competitors. Custom designs need more investment but make your app stand out.
- Animation and graphics: Custom visuals and animations improve user experience but need more design and development work.
- Adaptive vs. responsive design: Device-specific adaptive designs cost more than responsive designs that adjust automatically to screen sizes.
A simple functional design ranges from $5,000-$50,000. High-quality custom designs can cost between $50,000 to $130,000.
Feature set and integrations
Each feature you add affects your development budget. The costs vary based on complexity:
- Low-effort features: User profiles, static content feeds, and simple push notifications.
- High-effort features: Live chat, video streaming, and advanced search features.
- Common integrations: Payment systems (Stripe, PayPal), location services (Google Maps, Mapbox), and notification tools (Firebase Cloud Messaging).
These integrations speed up development but come with recurring fees and subscriptions. Setting up simple features costs $2,000-$15,000, not counting recurring charges.
Platform choice (iOS, Android, Web)
Your choice of platform shapes both development time and cost:
- Native development: Building separate iOS and Android apps costs 30-50% more than cross-platform solutions. You're building two different apps.
- Cross-platform development: Using React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin lets you build one app that works everywhere. This makes development faster and more economical.
Security and compliance requirements
Food delivery apps handle sensitive data, so security isn't optional:
- Data protection: Meeting GDPR, CCPA, and local privacy rules costs $5,000-$30,000 based on complexity.
- Industry-specific compliance: PCI DSS compliance for payments costs $5,000-$50,000 yearly depending on transaction volume.
- Security implementation: Data encryption, secure login, and payment protection must be built from the start.
Compliance costs are mandatory. Apps handling health-related dietary information might need extra regulations. HIPAA compliance documentation alone starts at $15,000.
Smart budgeting means balancing design, features, platform choice, and security. This balance helps create a food delivery app that serves users well without wasting money.
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Hidden Costs You Should Plan For
Food delivery applications come with a range of ongoing expenses that can catch unprepared entrepreneurs off guard. Business owners who plan to develop a food delivery app like Jahez must understand these hidden costs to plan their finances better.
App store fees and hosting
App development costs are just the beginning. Apple charges $99 annually for developer accounts, while Google Play needs a $25 one-time fee. Both platforms take a 15-30% commission on in-app purchases and subscriptions. Apple reduces its fee to 15% after the first year for subscription-based services.
Cloud hosting adds another layer of costs, ranging from $500-$10,000 monthly based on order volume. Your server must process thousands of orders, user information, and immediate tracking at the same time. These costs grow with your user base, so you'll need a flexible budget.
Maintenance and updates
Your app's launch is just the start of your journey. Yearly maintenance costs run about 15-20% of the original development expense. To cite an instance, see a food delivery app that costs $50,000 to build - you'll spend $7,500-$10,000 yearly on maintenance.
This investment covers:
- Regular security improvements
- Bug fixes and performance boosts
- Compatibility updates for new OS versions
- Third-party API adjustments
Proper maintenance helps avoid expensive downtime and keeps users happy. Yes, it is common for a $500 monthly expense to reach $2,000 within your first successful year.
Third-party service charges
Food delivery apps depend on external services with recurring fees. Payment processors charge 2-4% per transaction, plus integration costs. Google Maps and similar services use subscription or usage-based pricing.
Restaurant management systems and integrations add to your running costs. API updates require developer attention, which creates more expenses. PCI DSS certification costs between $5,000-$50,000 annually depending on how many transactions you process.
Marketing and user acquisition
Great apps still need users. Food delivery apps typically spend $5,000-$50,000 monthly on marketing. Quality customer support adds $1,000-$10,000 monthly to your budget.
Marketing expenses also include:
- Restaurant onboarding and partnership incentives
- Loyalty program rewards
- Referral bonuses and promotional discounts
Customer acquisition costs rise as the market gets more competitive. This investment pays off because first-time users often become regular customers.
How to Optimize Your Development Budget
Smart budget management helps turn your app idea into reality without breaking the bank. You don't need massive investment to develop a food delivery app like Jahez when you use strategic cost-cutting approaches.
Start with an MVP
The best way to control development expenses starts with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This approach focuses on features that solve your users' biggest problem. Core features for food delivery apps include:
- Simple restaurant listings
- Simple ordering functionality
- Simple payment options
- Simple order tracking
An MVP helps you confirm business assumptions quickly and get great user feedback before investing in additional features. This confirmation-first approach prevents wasting money on functions users don't want. Your market entry becomes faster, and you start generating revenue sooner.
Use cross-platform frameworks
Cross-platform development can cut your expenses by 30-40% compared to building separate native apps. Technologies like Flutter and React Native help you maintain a single codebase for both iOS and Android platforms.
Cross-platform development brings several advantages:
- Development cycles speed up with unified code
- QA testing needs decrease
- Updates become simpler
- Performance stays close to native with modern frameworks
Startups and small businesses with limited resources benefit the most from this approach. Many established companies start with cross-platform solutions to test market reception before building fully native applications.
Outsource to affordable regions
Location-based cost differences create substantial opportunities to optimize your budget. Developer rates vary by region:
- North America: $100-$150+ per hour
- South Asia/Latin America: $30-$50 per hour
Working with developers in affordable regions can deliver quality results at lower prices. Note that successful outsourcing needs clear communication channels and detailed requirements.
Use open-source tools
Open-source technologies eliminate expensive licensing fees while providing resilient functionality. Food delivery apps commonly use open-source components for:
- Backend infrastructure
- Database management
- API development
- Frontend frameworks
Ready-made open-source food delivery solutions exist that adapt to your specific needs and substantially cut development time and cost. Your team can focus on customization instead of building everything from scratch.
Automate testing and QA
Test automation reduces quality assurance costs over time. Automated testing:
- Finds bugs earlier in development
- Cuts manual testing needs
- Speeds up releases and updates
- Provides thorough test coverage
Companies like JigNect showed that using open-source testing tools like Selenium and Appium can lower expenses while maintaining high quality standards.
Building a food delivery app like Jahez needs careful budget planning. CISIN's mobile app development team specializes in affordable development strategies that match your business model and target market. We help turn your concept into a market-ready application without compromising quality.
Monetization Strategies for Your App
Making money is the ultimate goal when you build a food delivery app like Jahez. The right monetization strategy turns your app from an expensive project into a money-making business. Let's look at some proven ways to generate revenue from your food delivery platform.
Commission from restaurants
Restaurant commissions are the foundations of food delivery app revenue. Most platforms take 15% to 30% of each order value. This percentage model works well for everyone, restaurants get more visibility and orders while your platform makes money from each transaction.
Platforms that charge higher commissions (close to 30%) usually provide extra perks like premium placement and marketing support. Note that high commission rates can hurt restaurant relationships. Some platforms solve this by offering tiered structures with lower rates for basic services.
New platforms should start with lower commission rates to get more restaurant partners. You can raise rates or add premium tiers with higher commissions as your user base grows.
Delivery fees and surge pricing
Customer charges create another major revenue stream. Apps typically use fixed delivery fees or base them on distance. These charges usually run $2.00 to $5.00 per order.
Surge pricing can boost your revenue by adjusting rates during busy times. You can charge more during lunch hours, weekends, bad weather, or holidays. While this can be profitable, be careful, customers might leave if they think you're taking advantage of them.
LendingTree's research shows delivery services make meals cost about 80% more. This includes delivery fees, service charges, and restaurant price adjustments.
Subscription plans and loyalty programs
Subscription models bring in steady, predictable revenue and keep customers coming back. Services like DoorDash DashPass give monthly subscribers benefits like free delivery, lower fees, and special discounts.
This creates reliable income and promotes long-term loyalty. Subscribers tend to order more often than other customers. They also like knowing exactly what they'll pay without worrying about changing delivery costs.
In-app ads and featured listings
Restaurant advertising has become a crucial revenue source. Platforms make good money through sponsored listings, premium spots, and featured restaurants.
UberEats and DoorDash now let restaurants manage their own advertising, with great results. Advertising restaurants see 15-30% more sales, and each dollar spent on ads brings in $10-$20 in extra sales.
This revenue stream gets more valuable as your platform grows, major platforms can make hundreds of millions yearly. Restaurants pay $50-$500 monthly for sponsored listings, depending on how visible they want to be.
Software development companies like CISIN can help you put these money-making strategies to work, creating custom solutions that fit your market needs.
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Conclusion
The food delivery app market offers huge growth potential for entrepreneurs. This piece shows that building a successful app like Jahez needs careful planning, smart feature selection, and budget management.
Development costs vary from $40,000 to $500,000+. You can test your concept with an MVP without overspending. Start with core features - restaurant listings, ordering capabilities, and simple tracking - before adding advanced options.
Your choice of technology stack affects both performance and budget substantially. Cross-platform frameworks reduce costs by up to 40% compared to native development while delivering excellent user experiences. It also helps to work with developers from budget-friendly regions to maximize your budget.
Hidden expenses need attention too. App store fees, cloud hosting, maintenance updates, third-party service charges, and marketing costs accumulate fast. Good planning for these ongoing costs prevents financial surprises after launch.
Your chosen monetization approach determines your business model's sustainability. Restaurant commissions (15-30%), delivery fees, surge pricing during peak hours, subscription plans, and advertising are the foundations of revenue streams for food delivery platforms.
Market research proves vital before coding begins. You need to understand local food priorities, analyze competitors, and identify service gaps to build something users want, not just another generic delivery app.
User experience determines success in food delivery apps. Clean interfaces, accessible navigation, and live order tracking keep customers loyal. More than 35% of users switch apps because restaurant menus lack clarity.
Food delivery platforms cater to three distinct groups, customers, restaurants, and delivery agents. Each needs specific features and interfaces tailored to their role. A smooth restaurant onboarding process helps grow your platform quickly.
CISIN's mobile app development team can guide you through this experience, from concept validation to market launch. Their expertise with similar platforms helps you avoid common pitfalls while implementing proven strategies.
The online food delivery market will exceed $314 billion by 2032. Building your app now puts you in position to capture part of this explosive growth. Your food delivery platform can thrive in this competitive yet rewarding space with the right development partner, clear vision, and strategic execution.
