Dubai Taxi & Keeta Team Up for Last-Mile Delivery

Dubai’s logistics and mobility sector is entering a new phase as the Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) signs a strategic agreement with Keeta, the newly launched delivery platform backed by Chinese tech giant Meituan. The partnership, announced during GITEX 2025, will see DTC provide large-scale last-mile delivery support to Keeta’s operations in Dubai, combining traditional delivery fleets with digital logistics technology. According to Arabian Business, the collaboration begins with a fleet of 150 motorbikes dedicated to Keeta’s network, with plans to increase that number to 500 by the end of the year. (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/dtc-to-provide-last-mile-solutions-to-keeta-dubais-new-delivery-company)

The deal underscores Dubai’s ambition to position itself as a leading regional hub for next-generation logistics. Keeta, which launched in Dubai earlier this year, marks Meituan’s first expansion into the Middle East. The Chinese company, one of the world’s largest food and service delivery platforms, is bringing its technology-driven logistics expertise to a market that is already growing at double-digit rates. Gulf News reports that the partnership will help Keeta scale its delivery operations rapidly, with DTC acting as a logistics enabler capable of providing fleet management, driver training, and regulatory compliance across Dubai. (https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/dubai-taxi-company-keeta-to-launch-smarter-faster-delivery-service-in-dubai-1.500305504)

For DTC, traditionally recognized for its passenger and ride-hailing services, this move represents a strategic diversification. The company has already invested heavily in digital systems and electric vehicles, aligning with Dubai’s vision of sustainable, smart mobility. Arabian Business notes that DTC’s delivery segment grew by more than 102 percent in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, generating AED 18.2 million in revenue. Analysts expect the new partnership with Keeta to bring in an additional AED 10 million within the next 12 months. (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/dtc-to-provide-last-mile-solutions-to-keeta-dubais-new-delivery-company)

As reported by Gulf Business, the collaboration is not limited to motorbike deliveries. It also includes plans to explore drone-based delivery systems, electric mobility, and autonomous vehicle deployment. These technologies could be gradually integrated into Dubai’s logistics ecosystem under the supervision of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). (https://gulfbusiness.com/dubai-taxi-company-chinas-keeta-partner/) Such developments are consistent with Dubai’s D33 economic strategy, which prioritizes advanced logistics, innovation, and sustainability as key drivers of growth.

In the initial phase, DTC will provide Keeta with operational support, dispatch technology, and maintenance services through its existing infrastructure. The long-term plan envisions a hybrid delivery system that blends conventional couriers with future-oriented solutions. According to Khaleej Times, this initiative could create more than 500 delivery jobs across Dubai by the end of 2025, a significant contribution to the city’s expanding gig economy. (https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/gitex-2025-bikes-dubai-taxi-deal)

Meituan’s decision to enter Dubai through Keeta is part of a wider global push to replicate its domestic success in international markets. In China, Meituan dominates local delivery with hundreds of millions of users and millions of daily deliveries. By launching in Dubai, Keeta aims to adapt its data-driven logistics model to a city known for efficiency, infrastructure, and consumer tech adoption. Truck & Fleet ME reports that the collaboration gives Keeta access to DTC’s regulated delivery system and a local network of trained riders, ensuring compliance with Dubai’s transport and safety standards. (https://truckandfleetme.com/news/dtc-as-a-deliverer-taxi-fleet-scaling-up-to-take-part-in-last-mile-logistics-race/)

From a policy perspective, Dubai’s government has been actively promoting private-public partnerships to enhance mobility services. TradeArabia highlights that the DTC-Keeta alliance fits neatly into Dubai’s strategy to modernize delivery systems through collaboration between established public entities and private-sector innovators. (https://www.tradearabia.com/News/329190/Dubai-Taxi-Company%2C-Keeta-partner-for-last-mile-delivery-solutions/MTR) This model allows both companies to benefit from regulatory clarity while pushing the limits of operational efficiency.

The UAE’s last-mile delivery market has grown rapidly over the past three years, fueled by booming e-commerce, grocery delivery, and quick-commerce startups. RedSeer’s 2025 report forecasts a 25 percent annual increase in UAE delivery volumes over the next five years, with the market expected to exceed USD 6 billion by 2029. (https://redseer.com/insights/uae-ecommerce-logistics-2025-report) This rapid expansion has intensified competition among players such as Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon Minutes, and Careem Express. Keeta’s arrival, supported by DTC, adds a new dimension to this race.

Gulf News reported earlier that Keeta plans to establish its regional headquarters in Dubai, creating around 350 jobs and integrating local SMEs into its logistics network. (https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/delivery-portal-keeta-to-set-up-uae-headquarters-creating-350-jobs-1.500288559) The company is already testing Meituan’s AI-powered dispatch and route optimization systems in the UAE to cut delivery times and reduce carbon emissions. This technology could make deliveries up to 20 percent faster, according to early trials cited by Arabian Business. (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/dtc-to-provide-last-mile-solutions-to-keeta-dubais-new-delivery-company)

DTC, meanwhile, is betting that its partnership with Keeta will strengthen its role in the rapidly evolving logistics chain. The company already manages more than 2,000 delivery motorbikes, and integrating these assets with Keeta’s technology could boost overall delivery capacity by nearly 25 percent. Truck & Fleet ME wrote that DTC’s leadership views this move as a turning point, positioning the firm as a full-spectrum mobility and logistics provider. (https://truckandfleetme.com/news/dtc-as-a-deliverer-taxi-fleet-scaling-up-to-take-part-in-last-mile-logistics-race/)

However, there are challenges ahead. Expanding the fleet to 500 motorbikes requires large-scale recruitment, consistent driver training, and robust maintenance operations. Regulatory issues around drone and autonomous deliveries also remain unresolved. Industry experts told Gulf Business that ensuring operational safety and compliance with Dubai’s traffic laws will be essential to sustaining the partnership’s growth. (https://gulfbusiness.com/dubai-taxi-company-chinas-keeta-partner/)

The partnership also aligns with Dubai’s sustainability goals. Both companies have confirmed that future phases of the project will include electric motorcycles and hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions. Dubai’s broader target is to have 30 percent of its transportation powered by clean energy by 2030. Arabian Business noted that DTC is already exploring partnerships with EV manufacturers to support this transition. (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/dtc-to-provide-last-mile-solutions-to-keeta-dubais-new-delivery-company)

Keeta’s collaboration with DTC represents more than just a business arrangement—it reflects Dubai’s emergence as a regional logistics and technology hub. The city’s blend of advanced infrastructure, supportive regulation, and tech-driven consumer behavior has made it a fertile ground for innovation. TradeArabia observed that partnerships like this one create a blueprint for how public and private entities can work together to modernize logistics in the Gulf. (https://www.tradearabia.com/News/329190/Dubai-Taxi-Company%2C-Keeta-partner-for-last-mile-delivery-solutions/MTR)

In the coming months, DTC and Keeta will focus on operational scaling, technology integration, and service quality. Analysts expect both firms to use this collaboration as a pilot for regional expansion into neighboring Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. Gulf News suggested that Dubai’s leadership in transport innovation makes it the ideal launching pad for future Meituan-backed delivery ventures in the region. (https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/dubai-taxi-company-keeta-to-launch-smarter-faster-delivery-service-in-dubai-1.500305504)

As last-mile logistics becomes increasingly central to e-commerce success, Dubai’s example may soon set the tone for how global cities integrate smart mobility and delivery networks. The DTC-Keeta alliance is a microcosm of that shift—where technology, sustainability, and public-private synergy converge to define the next era of urban logistics.