Keeta, the on-demand delivery platform backed by global technology company Meituan, announced the release of a new white paper showcasing how digital delivery platforms can contribute to supporting digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and creating new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

The white paper was launched during Keeta's participation in the first edition of the LEAP East conference in Hong Kong, which marks the first time the leading technology conference has been held outside Saudi Arabia. The paper was presented by Tony Qiu, Vice President of Meituan and CEO of Keeta, during his session at the conference.

Titled 'From the Silk Road to the Last Mile: Food Delivery as a New Horizon for Saudi-Chinese Partnership,' the white paper draws on the experience of the Kingdom's food delivery sector to illustrate how digital platforms, artificial intelligence technologies, and smart logistics services are supporting the economic transformation underway in the Kingdom.

Based on several reports, the paper reviews the evolution of economic relations between Saudi Arabia and China, which are experiencing growing expansion in the fields of technology, innovation, and knowledge exchange, alongside trade and investment. This comes as the Kingdom continues to implement the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, with bilateral trade reaching USD 107.53 billion in 2024, while non-oil activities contributed 54.8% of GDP, reflecting the accelerating pace of economic diversification and creating a favorable environment for the growth of digital and technology sectors.

The paper showcases how delivery platforms have evolved beyond providing delivery services to become part of the infrastructure supporting commerce, logistics, and entrepreneurship. It also explains how digital tools, operational insights, and AI technologies can help restaurants improve their operational efficiency, better understand customer needs, expand their customer base, and make more effective decisions.

The report also addresses the role of smart logistics in enhancing the efficiency of last-mile operations, where technologies such as demand forecasting, route optimization, and smart order routing enable platforms to respond more efficiently to demand fluctuations, improve delivery reliability, and enhance the experience for users, merchants, and delivery riders.

The report indicates expectations that the number of online food delivery service users in the Kingdom will reach approximately 19.3 million users by 2028, driven by continued urban growth and the Kingdom's hosting of major global events, including Expo Riyadh 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. In light of this, the report highlights the growing role of delivery platforms in supporting innovation, expanding digital services, and strengthening the digital economy in the Kingdom.

According to published reports, the report pays special attention to the role of digital platforms in supporting the small and medium enterprises sector, which includes more than 1.7 million enterprises, provides approximately 8.88 million job opportunities, and contributes about 22.9% of GDP. It explains how delivery platforms can provide small enterprises, including local restaurants and heritage brands, with access to technology, enhance their operational capabilities, and reach broader customer segments, thereby supporting their growth and competitiveness.

Tony Qiu, Vice President of Meituan and CEO of Keeta, said: 'The food delivery sector in the Kingdom represents an important window to understand the economic transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia. Youth, advanced digital infrastructure, an entrepreneurial spirit, and local culture together create new opportunities for businesses, communities, and innovators.'

He added: 'Through the launch of this white paper at LEAP East, we wanted to share insights from Keeta's experience in the Kingdom and contribute to enriching the dialogue on how technology, local ambition, and global expertise can integrate to create sustainable value. We hope this study will enhance dialogue among the business community, investors, and decision-makers about the future of the digital economy in the Kingdom.'

The report also reviews a number of areas that offer broader opportunities for collaboration between technology platforms and the public and private sectors, including developing national talent, supporting localization programs, enabling small and medium enterprises, enhancing logistics for major events, developing smart mobility solutions, supporting the culture and tourism sectors, as well as employing technology to support health initiatives.

The insights presented in the report are based on Keeta's experience in building a delivery platform designed to meet the needs of the Saudi market. Since entering the Kingdom in September 2024, the company has built a network of more than 50,000 restaurant partners and over 25,000 delivery riders. Driven by its mission 'We help everyone eat better and live better,' Keeta continues to invest in technology, empower its partners, and build local partnerships that support the digital economy in the Kingdom.