Saudi Arabia is on a digital transformation in the food delivery industry. The market continues to expand rapidly, driven by rising customer demand, growth of digital payments, and the heightening preference for convenience-based dining. Millions of people order food online from local eateries and cloud kitchens; businesses across Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah are investing and planning to invest in a mobile app to stay competitive.
As per reports, the Saudi Arabia Delivery Apps Market size is estimated at USD 8.33 billion in 2025, and is predicted to reach USD 17.05 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 15.4% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
In addition to this, the government is also showing keen interest in promoting the cause for digital transformation with initiatives such as Vision 2030 to support the fast-growing sector. In such a scenario, if you are planning to create an app, then understanding the cost of building a mobile app in Saudi Arabia is fundamental for entrepreneurs and enterprises thinking of entering the industry. A well-designed food delivery mobile application can boost customer loyalty, increase revenue, and enable long-term business growth in Saudi Arabia’s thriving digital economy. In this blog, we will explore the key factors that drive app development costs in Saudi Arabia.
Cost of Mobile App Development in Saudi Arabia
The cost of developing a food delivery app in Saudi Arabia depends on numerous factors, such as the app’s complexity level, developers’ expertise, platform choice, and other crucial factors. We have explained each of these pointers thoroughly to help you understand the effect of these on total development pricing.
Cost of Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia by Complexity
The complexity of an app plays the biggest role in determining its cost. A mobile application’s complexity plays one of the biggest roles in determining its final cost. In the cost table below, we explore the app cost estimate as per the app’s development level, which is a basic app/MVP, moderate/mid-level app, and complex/enterprise apps.
Cost of Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia by Platform Choice
Another significant factor that affects the total cost of a delivery app in Saudi Arabia depends on the platform you choose – Android, iOS, or both. We have created a cost table so that you can grasp the comparison briefly. Partnering with a top mobile app development agency in Saudi Arabia ensures that the right tech stack, features, and optimization deliver results and cost for long-term success.
Cost of Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia by Significant Factors
Other than platform choice and complexity levels, the rest of the factors that affect the cost of a food delivery app are as below;
Cost of Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia by Developer Rates
Cost factor also relies on the team structure in Saudi Arabia. Final expenses depend on whether a business hires a local developer for the project or outsources internationally, or chooses to go for a hybrid option. Local development team offers stronger market understanding and cultural alignment.
On the other hand, outsourcing can decrease costs but provide efficient communication and project management. Joining hands with the top app developers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ensures that a business gets a quality product, scalability, and a smooth launch process, and post-launch support as well. The cost also depends on whether you hire a local team in Saudi Arabia, outsource to another country, or work with a hybrid model.
Below is a brief comparison of developers’ efficiency level, check it out.
- Junior App Developers: A group of junior app developers may charge SAR 80 and SAR 120 per hour.
- Mid-Level App Developers: Individuals who have one or two years of experience in the app development process in Saudi Arabia may cost you SAR 150 – SAR 250 per hour.
- Seasoned App Developers: Experts who have years of expertise and skills may charge SAR 300 – SAR 500 per hour for the app development project.
Read More: Cost to Build a Food Delivery App: Region-Wise Breakdown
Top Factors that Affect the Cost of Food Delivery App Development in Saudi Arabia
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the cost of food delivery app development in Saudi Arabia; all of the factors are mentioned below.
Timeline to Develop a Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia
The complexity, features, and development approach of a food delivery software in Saudi Arabia determine how long it will take to build. A basic MVP version can take roughly 2–3 months, whereas a mid-level meal delivery service with payment integration, real-time tracking, and restaurant dashboards typically requires 4–6 months. More complicated enterprise-level apps with AI, multi-currency support, and compliance capabilities can extend to 6–12 months. Partnering with an experienced mobile app development business in Saudi Arabia ensures faster delivery, smoother execution, and solid post-launch support.
How to Develop a High-Performing Mobile App
Mobile app in Saudi Arabia needs more than just a digital presence; the app must be crafted with precision that truly advantages your business. If you want your mobile application to perform well, you must hire a developer to build it around priority business goals, customer needs, and most importantly, scalability.
A result-driven food delivery app must include the below important elements;
Goals & Success Metrics: Make sure to define your business app goals, whether it’s meant to drive customer acquisition, boost retention, or generate better revenue. Having a set of KPIs, such as the number of active users or average order value, can help you measure progress.
UI/UX & Usability: The Saudi Arabia target audience expects a localized and flawless experience. They expect to view designing with Arabic given priority, usage of right-to-left layouts, and smooth navigation.
Speed and Performance: If your app lags or crashes often, users will not stay for more than 30 seconds. Optimization of the app is very significant for low latency and must be compatible with different types of devices.
Security: Protect user data with advanced security methods. Use encrypted payments, secure login, and strong privacy controls. Security builds trust and keeps customers confident while sharing personal or financial information inside the app.
Feedback & Improvement: Collect user feedback often through ratings and reviews. Fix issues quickly and release updates to improve features and performance. Continuous improvements help your app stay competitive and keep users satisfied long-term.
Maintainability: Build your app with clean, scalable code so developers can easily update features and remove bugs. Well-structured development ensures long-term reliability, reducing future costs and supporting business growth smoothly.
Build a Robust Food Delivery App in Saudi Arabia with CodKnox – Top Mobile App Development Company
Saudi Arabia has always been one step ahead in progress, and now, with almost 97% of the population utilizing mobile apps, it has become utmost important to invest in an app for businesses that want to reach target audiences in larger numbers. Whether you operate a startup, small to medium business, mid-enterprise, or a large enterprise in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, you require a custom mobile application to expand your business and earn profit.
Developing an app is an investment that will be profitable in the long run. The cost to develop a mobile app in Saudi Arabia usually starts from SAR 2,500 (USD 6,000) and can increase further if new advancements are added. To build a robust mobile app, partnering up with a mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia, like CodKnox, can be helpful. As an expert development company, we can assist you throughout the process, consult with development, share weekly/monthly updates, offer expertise on development, and provide post-launch support. If you want to create an app that delivers outstanding outcomes, get in touch with us to start the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How much does it cost to build a food delivery app in Saudi Arabia?
The starting cost of a food delivery app is usually around SAR 2,500, which is approximately $6,000 USD for a basic-level app. The cost goes up as you add features, advanced UI/IX, or third-party integration.
Q2. How long does it take to create a food delivery app?
The total app development time depends on several factors. In case of a simple app, it may take somewhere between 6 to 10 weeks, while at the same time, a feature-rich app can take almost 3 to 6 months to develop.
Q3. What are the best features to include in a food delivery app?
Some of the significant app features which should be included in a food delivery app in Saudi Arabia are;
- User-friendly sign-up and sign-in
- A well-designed user interface
- Real-time order tracking
- Search filter feature
- User feedback feature for rating & reviews
- Easy navigation
Q4. What delivery apps are trending in Saudi Arabia?
The delivery apps that are popular and trending in Saudi Arabia are;
- HungerStation
- Mrsool
- Jahez
- Nana
- Talabat
Q5. Should I hire a local development company or an international one?
You can hire either a local development company or an international company. A local company will understand Saudi Arabia’s consumer behavior and regulations better. On the other hand, an international firm may offer a cost-effective solution.
Q6. What are the benefits of a food delivery app?
A food delivery app has many advantages for a business, such as;
- Increases customer convenience and happiness by allowing easy ordering anytime, anyplace.
- Boosts sales and revenue through online demand, repeat orders, and greater reach.
- improves transparency, trust, and the general consumer experience by offering real-time tracking.
- increases company productivity through data insights, automated orders, and a lighter workload.
