Passengers flying through Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) will soon have the option to order food to their gate.
Dubai Airports and food delivery firm Deliveroo launched DeliverooDXB, which allows “time-starved passengers” to have orders delivered on foot to their boarding gates within 15 minutes.
“Our mission to completely reinvent the airport experience is rooted in implementing innovative concepts, as demonstrated by this partnership with the world’s best food delivery brand,” said Eugene Barry, executive vice president of commercial and communications at Dubai Airports.
The service has been rolled out at Concourse A involving more than 10 eateries, but additional outlets and concourses will be added in six months, with plans to introduce the service at other international airports. Since there is a guaranteed delivery time, participating DXB restaurants will prioritise Deliveroo orders.
Customers can place orders on Deliveroo’s app, website or the quick link that will be available on DXB’s startup page when logging into the free Wi-Fi service (known as Wow-Fi). There is also signage at each gate with step-by-step instructions, also serving as a collection point for deliveries.
“Deliveroo’s mission is to provide the best food delivery experience in the world, and there is no reason why that should be limited to the home or office,” said Anis Harb, the Deliveroo GCC general manager.
“With our riders now delivering to the gate, there is no reason to miss breakfast, lunch or dinner even when passengers may only have minutes to spare before boarding.”
Hungry but in a hurry? Now you can get food delivered straight to your boarding gate with the launch of DeliverooDXB! More info: https://t.co/1erw6rkm6W #deliveroo #mustbeDXB pic.twitter.com/Xz86IHqkTd
— Dubai International (@DXB) November 14, 2017
However, the service did not appear immediately available when The National attempted a test run.
The availability for food delivery appeared outside the airport at the arrival gate and surrounding area.
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Mr Harb said that right now users must be in the concourse to access the option. “It’s all geo-fenced by concourse - it’s a Google Maps issue. When you put T3 it takes the pin to the departure section, but it’s different when you’re in the airport,” he said.
The company expects customers will be a mix of existing local clientele as well as transient passengers who may not know the airport or are running late. The terminal service will not have a minimum order criteria or include delivery fees for at least six months. "This is a new way of ordering, a new habit," Mr Harb said. "We want to encourage the customer to try it out."
