Can AI Help Solve the UAE’s Food Waste Crisis?
Every day, restaurants, supermarkets and cafés are left with perfectly good food that often goes unsold. For many businesses, this means not only food waste but also a complete loss of potential revenue. A UAE-based startup, Peekabox, is working to change that by creating a simple link between surplus food and value-conscious consumers.
Launched just four weeks ago, the food waste platform has already onboarded more than 1,000 stores across over 40 brands and attracted around 80,000 users. The company has also secured US$1.5 million in funding to support its growth.
Peekabox partners with retailers, supermarkets, coffee chains and restaurants to sell excess food through discounted “surprise boxes”. Customers can purchase these boxes at savings of 50 to 70 per cent and collect them directly from stores during selected pickup times.
Its growing list of partners includes well-known names such as Union Coop, Costa Coffee and Tim Hortons, as well as brands like Barakat, Brunch & Cake, Bakerist and Roasters.
For founder and CEO Hasan Sarwar, one of the biggest hurdles was convincing large food and retail operators to come on board before the platform had even launched.
“The hardest part was doing it before launch, with nothing live to show. At that stage they are not buying the product, they are buying into you as a founder and whether you can execute,” Sarwar said.
The surprise-box model addresses a challenge many food businesses face when it comes to discounting unsold products. While retailers are often concerned that heavy discounts could affect their brand image or reduce regular sales, the randomised nature of the boxes and their limited availability help minimise these concerns.
According to Sarwar, the concept creates a new revenue stream from products that would otherwise be thrown away.
Among all categories, grocery has emerged as the strongest performer, with discounted meal bags and everyday essentials frequently selling out. Bakeries have also seen strong demand as consumers continue to look for more affordable food options.
Looking ahead, Peekabox aims to tackle between one and three per cent of the UAE’s food waste over the next three to five years. The company is also exploring collaborations with Ne’ma, the UAE’s national food loss and waste initiative, as part of its broader efforts to reduce food waste.
“We are not trying to solve it alone because no single company can,” Sarwar said.
Beyond consumer sales, Peekabox is also developing AI-powered technology that can help retailers predict surplus stock and make smarter pricing decisions throughout the day. The goal is to support a more dynamic pricing approach, allowing businesses to reduce waste before products reach the end of their shelf life.
Although the company has received interest from neighbouring markets, its current focus remains on strengthening its presence in the UAE and building deeper partnerships with existing retailers.
Saudi Arabia remains a key market for future expansion, particularly cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah. However, Sarwar says the company plans to refine its operations in the UAE first before entering the Kingdom.
By turning surplus food into an opportunity rather than a loss, platforms like Peekabox are showing how businesses can balance sustainability goals with commercial value.
