UAE-based food-tech startup Peekabox has raised $1.5 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round to scale its surplus food marketplace platform across the UAE and wider GCC region. The funding comes as investor interest continues to grow around startups focused on sustainability, circular economy models, and consumer affordability.
Founded in 2025 by brothers Hasan Sarwar and Omair Sarwar, Peekabox connects consumers with surplus food from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and grocery stores at discounts ranging from 50% to 70%. Users can reserve “surprise boxes” through the app and collect them during fixed pickup windows.
The startup launched with partnerships across more than 1,000 stores and over 40 major food and grocery brands in the UAE. Its partner network includes Carrefour, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Pret A Manger, Paul, Eataly, Union Coop, Choithrams, Grandiose, and Address Hotels.
What Problem Is Peekabox Solving?
Peekabox is building its business around two growing challenges in the UAE: food waste and rising living costs.
According to industry estimates, the UAE wastes billions of dollars worth of food every year, with a large percentage of prepared food discarded daily. At the same time, consumers across the region continue to face increasing food and household expenses.
Peekabox allows businesses to recover value from unsold inventory instead of throwing it away. Consumers benefit by getting access to meals and grocery products from well-known brands at lower prices.
The company positions itself as both a sustainability platform and a practical savings tool for residents looking to reduce daily spending without compromising on food quality.
How the Peekabox Platform Works
The platform follows a simple marketplace model.
At the end of each business day, partner restaurants and grocery stores list surplus food on the Peekabox app. Consumers can browse available boxes nearby, reserve them through the app, and collect them within a scheduled time window.
The food remains fresh and prepared for same-day consumption, while businesses reduce waste and generate additional revenue from products that would otherwise be discarded.
This model has already gained traction in several international markets, especially in Europe, where surplus food marketplaces have become increasingly popular among both consumers and retailers.
Strong Early Traction Across the UAE
Peekabox has focused heavily on building its supply network before scaling consumer demand.
The startup secured partnerships with major franchise groups and retail operators across the UAE, including Majid Al Futtaim, Apparel Group, Azadea, Americana, Cravia, and Emirates Leisure Retail.
This large network gives Peekabox broad coverage across cafes, bakeries, grocery stores, and hospitality venues throughout Dubai and other Emirates.
The company believes the UAE offers an ideal environment for this model due to its dense F&B ecosystem, high digital adoption, and large daily volume of fresh food production.
Who Backed the Funding Round?
The funding round attracted support from several regional investors, operators, and business leaders.
Peekabox’s board is chaired by Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, former Chairman and CEO of Dubai International Capital and board member of DIFC Authority. The advisory network also includes executives such as Fares Akkad, CEO of Meta MEA, Yasser Abdulmalak, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé MENA, and Mahdi Shafiei, Founder of Trifid Media.
The involvement of experienced regional operators adds strategic value beyond capital, especially as the company prepares for regional expansion and operational scaling.
How Will Peekabox Use the Funding?
Peekabox plans to use the new funding to accelerate go-to-market operations across the UAE.
The capital will support:
- marketing and customer acquisition
- operational expansion
- technology improvements
- platform scaling
- lean team growth
The company also plans to strengthen its logistics and inventory systems to improve user experience and partner efficiency.
Following deeper expansion in the UAE, Peekabox plans to enter other GCC markets, starting with Saudi Arabia. The company sees strong potential in the Kingdom due to its large food retail sector and high surplus food volume.
Growing Demand for Circular Economy Startups in the GCC
Peekabox’s funding round reflects a broader trend across the Middle East startup ecosystem.
Investors are increasingly backing startups that combine sustainability with scalable commercial models. Food waste reduction, ESG reporting, and circular economy infrastructure are becoming more important across the retail and hospitality industries in the GCC.
For large F&B brands and retailers, platforms like Peekabox can also support sustainability targets and reduce operational losses linked to unsold food inventory.
As consumer demand for affordable options grows alongside sustainability awareness, surplus food marketplaces may become a larger part of the region’s digital commerce ecosystem in the coming years.
