Multinational pizza chain Dodo Pizza, in collaboration with global research firm YouGov, has released a survey of 2000 respondents examining fast food delivery preferences in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The findings show distinct consumer behaviours between the two markets: pizza is the most frequently ordered fast food in the UAE, followed closely by fried chicken and burgers.
In Saudi Arabia, burgers take a strong lead overall but exhibit a notable decline in popularity among older consumers, with pizza gaining traction among families and high-income groups.
In the United Arab Emirates, 40% of consumers ranked pizza as their most frequently ordered fast food item, followed closely by fried chicken (39%) and burgers or sandwiches (38%). By contrast, in Saudi Arabia, 47% of respondents indicated burgers and sandwiches were their most-ordered category.
Pizza followed with a solid 41%, while kebabs attracted 38%, showing a stronger preference for local flavors compared to the UAE. Fried chicken lags behind at 33% in Saudi, 6 percentage points lower than in the UAE.
Just 5% of respondents chose Mexican food as their top choice in both countries. Other categories* gained 6% in the UAE and 3% in Saudi Arabia (the ‘Other’ category includes a diverse range of national cuisines not listed among the main fast food types, such as Pakistani, Indian, Egyptian, as well as Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Greek, and Nigerian food).
In both countries women mostly order pizza and burgers, while men tend to choose fried chicken and shawarmas for delivery. In Saudi Arabia demand for burgers among women is 6 p.p. higher than in men.
Variation by age:
- Pizza shows broad and stable popularity across all age groups in both countries. In Saudi it is mostly ordered by consumers aged 25-34, while in the UAE the main age group was 35-44.
- Fried chicken’s core age group is 25-44 in the UAE 45+ in Saudi Arabia.
- Burgers are unequivocally the favourite for 18–24-year-olds in both countries, but popularity drops sharply with age — by 20 p.p. in the UAE and 15 p.p. in Saudi Arabia for those over 45.
Income continues to be a strong predictor of fast food preference:
- In the UAE, low and middle-income groups (under AED 20,000/month) mostly choose fried chicken or shawarma. The wealthiest consumer segments (AED 20,001–40,000+) show a strong preference for pizza.
- In Saudi Arabia, burgers dominate across all income groups, but pizza gains ground among those earning more than SAR 30,000/month. Shawarma and fried chicken are most popular among mid-income households.
Marital status also plays a role:
- Single consumers are the core audience for burgers, while married individuals with children are significantly more likely to order pizza and fried chicken.
In Saudi, Dammam stands out as a pizza stronghold, as 48% of respondents prefer pizza, second only to kebabs (54%), making it a top city for pizza expansion — even ahead of larger urban centers like Riyadh or Jeddah.
In Dubai, pizza surpasses burgers by 10-point margin (47% vs. 37%) in delivery orders, making it the city’s most preferred fast food. In Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, kebabs and shawarma are more frequently ordered, emphasizing the preference for local flavours.
Price remains the leading concern in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Saudi consumers being 11% more sensitive to pricing changes. In contrast, UAE respondents place equal importance on food quality and price.
Among lower-income groups, inconsistent pricing and slow delivery are the leading deal breakers, with product quality also playing a major role. For example, in Saudi Arabia, over half (51%) of the lowest-income respondents cite inconsistent pricing as their main reason for not reordering, while in the UAE, unsatisfying product quality (40%) and slow delivery (35%) top the list for those earning up to AED 10,000
At the same time, among higher-income groups in both markets, concern over pricing falls notably, while factors such as poor service, customer support, and brand reputation increase in importance.
In the UAE, both poor service and negative brand perception become nearly as important as pricing among the wealthiest respondents (AED 25,000+), and a similar trend is observed in Saudi Arabia, where dissatisfaction with service and brand reputation nearly doubles among top earners compared to the lowest-income group.
The survey shows that younger consumers are the most sensitive to both digital experience and brand reputation: among respondents aged 18–24, 15% cited difficulty using a restaurant’s app or website and 19% pointed to negative brand perception as reasons for not placing repeat orders. Sensitivity to these factors declines consistently with age, reaching their lowest levels among those 45 and older.
This research was conducted by Dodo Pizza parental company Dodo Brands in partnership with YouGov to explore fast food delivery preferences in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The online survey gathered responses from 2,000 residents aged 18 and above across major cities.
The sample was segmented by age, gender, marital status, income level, nationality, and employment status. The study aimed to identify category preferences, behavioral patterns, and factors influencing loyalty and repeat orders in the delivery channel.
