Online Delivery Drivers Continue to Deliver Food Amid Rocket Threats

Online delivery drivers continue to deliver food despite rocket threats in the Middle East. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), several on-demand services initially faced outages last Saturday when the first attacks occurred, but services later resumed, assuring the public that needs could be met. Careem said it was ensuring operational safety and providing safety guidelines that are continually updated to drivers via WhatsApp groups and SMS. Careem also did not compel every driver to keep working, particularly those who were worried. Uber also said it remains fully operational in the UAE, including its food delivery service UberEats. ‘The safety and welfare of our rider and driver-partners are our top priority. We monitor the situation directly and will continue to operate in line with all government guidance,’ Uber said in a statement cited by Wired on Wednesday (4 March 2026). Although operations appeared normal, many criticised the decision to run services in uncertain circumstances. Drivers face very high risks as they could be hit by debris or other hazards on the streets. Another concern is drivers spending long periods outdoors in danger when there are no orders, to meet daily quotas. A Deliveroo driver also described delivering for a third-party logistics agent. They said if they refused to work they would be fined by the agent. Fines would also apply if they failed to meet their daily delivery quotas. They also said they had not received safety guidance or advice from the company about the ongoing attacks. On the other hand, drivers also risk losing their income because they earn from the services provided. For example, on most delivery platforms they receive a base salary and per-delivery pay. Drivers also receive incentives after delivering as many meals as possible. Meanwhile, with Uber, drivers are paid for pickups and deliveries, fares, plus tips from customers. In some areas drivers receive a per-minute rate.