Introducing Scheduling on Careem Food

We’re excited to introduce Scheduling on Careem Food, a simpler and smarter way to plan your meals hours or even days in advance. 

Whether it’s planning your daily lunch before the meetings pile up, or setting the scene for a cosy at-home dinner with friends, this feature makes it a breeze.

Plan your meals ahead and we’ll deliver them right on time, every time.

How it works

You can schedule your order in 2 convenient ways:

• Plan Ahead: Tap the ‘Schedule’ button on any restaurant page to pick the date and time that works best for you, then build your order.

Or

• Decide at checkout: Add items to your basket as usual and simply select ‘Schedule’ at checkout.

Why we built this

We noticed a pattern: the majority of food orders happen in a frantic rush around noon or 7 PM. Life is busy, and in those moments, deciding what to eat can feel like another task on a long to-do list. We heard from customers that they wanted a way to get ahead of the hunger.

“We’ve all been there: hungry, busy, and wishing planning meals was just a little easier. Whether it’s getting lunch sorted for the team or planning family dinners for the week, we wanted to make it feel effortless. From never missing breakfast to hosting your next gathering, scheduling is about freeing up time for what really matters: good food and good company.”

– Saurav Patro, PM Lead

Why it matters

Traditionally, ordering food meant deciding, ordering, and waiting, all in one go. This often happens when you’re already hungry or short on time. Scheduling cuts out the last-minute friction, freeing up your mental space and making meal time easier and more reliable.

“As someone who’s worked on complex delivery systems, I’ve seen how the traditional model adds friction. When people are hungry, decisions happen in seconds, they often pick whatever’s fastest, not what they truly want. The scheduling feature flips that dynamic. It lets customers make thoughtful choices ahead of time, while giving our logistics teams and partners the visibility to optimize routes and prep times. It’s transforming impulse-driven ordering into strategic meal planning.”

– Laith Younes, Engineering Lead

Built for YOU

Whether you’re planning your meals or trying to get a family dinner on the table without the stress, Scheduling takes the hassle out of meal prep. It’s made for busy professionals, families, and anyone who uses planning to make their day smoother.

“This is perfect for back-to-back workdays. I schedule my lunch for 1 PM a day ahead, and it arrives on time. No more last-minute orders.”

– Amal W.

“Hosting friends used to mean stressing about cooking or timing a last-minute delivery. Now, I can schedule a full dinner to arrive right as my friends do.”

– Jay L.

Mealtimes should be about enjoying your food and the people you share it with, not the last-minute stress of ordering, which is why we built Scheduling. It’s a simple tool that handles one more detail in your busy life so you can be more present for the moments that matter. 

Take control of your time and enjoy your food on your schedule.

Scheduling is currently available to customers in Dubai, and will be expanding to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Jordan in December. 

Try Scheduling on Careem today!