Delivery riders in the UAE are able to save a significant portion of their salaries, thanks to the generosity of customers who still give cash tips. Despite the rise of advanced digital payments, many customers still prefer to tip in cash, which helps these riders save most of their earnings. Riders like Muhammad Umair, who works for Talabat in Dubai, receive tips from customers that amount to over Dh400 per month, enough to cover rent for shared accommodation. Many restaurants also offer meal benefits to riders, allowing them to save a bigger portion of their salary.
Umair mentioned that the highest tip he has received was Dh80 from a customer at the Burj Khalifa. In addition to cash tips, some customers also offer cold water or juices, especially during the scorching summer heat. Waqas Saghar, a delivery rider with GetGive Delivery Service in Dubai, earns between Dh2,000 and Dh4,000 per month. He completes around 40 to 45 deliveries daily and receives more than Dh400 in tips each month on average. These tips help him cover his rent and some customers even provide food, allowing him to save around 80% of his monthly salary.
The shift to digital payments has impacted the earnings of some delivery riders, with riders like Usman Ashique experiencing a decrease in daily tips from around Dh40 to Dh50 to an average monthly tip of between Dh300 and Dh400. Despite this, his tips still cover his monthly rent for shared accommodation. Ashique also saves on food costs by cooking with flatmates. Ashique noted that most customers, particularly Emiratis, are kind to delivery riders, offering water and juices during the summer.
A study by HelloSafe revealed that the UAE and Qatar have some of the highest tipping rates in the world. While the generosity of customers is appreciated, Ashique also has a polite request for customers to understand the challenges faced by delivery riders, especially during the summer. He hopes that customers will treat riders politely and understand if there are occasional delays due to traffic or safety reasons. Overall, the generosity of customers through cash tips and other gestures plays a significant role in helping delivery riders save a substantial portion of their earnings.
