How do restaurants in the UAE take orders on WhatsApp?

UAE restaurants take WhatsApp orders by hand in the free WhatsApp Business app, or automatically on the WhatsApp Business API. On the API, an order update to a UAE number costs AED 0.0576 from 1 October 2026.

• Business app: free. The customer messages you, you reply with the total and confirm. Good for a few orders a day.
• Business API: automatic. The customer sends “Hi”, gets your menu, orders and gets updates. It usually runs through a provider, and Meta charges per message.
• From 1 October 2026, offer messages cost AED 0.2115 each, and each number gets 1,000 free replies a month, then AED 0.0576 per reply.
• Paying inside WhatsApp is not available in the UAE; it works in India, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia. Collect payment by link, card or cash.
• WhatsApp's policy bans selling or promoting alcohol and tobacco through WhatsApp. The UAE is not on its list of alcohol exceptions.