MP Wants Action on Rising Delivery App Fees

Food delivery apps in Bahrain should face rules to curb high delivery charges and restaurant commissions, MP Jalal Kadhem has said, calling for government action to regulate a fast-growing market.

Kadhem said clear rules were needed to strike a fair balance between consumers, restaurants and delivery firms, while cutting high fees and commission rates and bringing greater openness to the sector.

He said the rapid rise of app-based delivery services had outpaced the rules governing the trade, making it necessary to protect the interests of all parties and support the long-term health of the market.

Kadhem pointed to steps taken by other Gulf states to cap delivery charges and commissions paid by restaurants, saying Bahrain should study those measures and draw on the most suitable ideas for its own market.

He said new rules would ease costs for consumers, help restaurants along with small and medium-sized businesses, and give delivery companies a fair market in which to compete.

Kadhem called on the relevant government bodies to review the way delivery platforms operate and introduce rules that match the growth of the digital economy, protect consumers and support the restaurant and services sectors in Bahrain.