Peekabox Raises $1.5M Seed Round to Fight Food Waste in the UAE
A Dubai-based food-tech startup is turning one of the region’s biggest problems into a business opportunity, and investors are paying close attention. Peekabox, the UAE’s first surplus food marketplace, has closed an oversubscribed $1.5 million seed round, backed by a network of regional heavyweight investors and operators.
Founded in 2025 by brothers Hasan and Omair Sarwar, the Peekabox surplus food marketplace UAE platform connects restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and grocery stores with budget-conscious consumers looking for deals. Customers reserve “surprise boxes” through the app and pick them up in-store at guaranteed discounts of 50 to 70 percent, with no conditions attached.
The numbers behind the mission
The UAE discards over $3.5 billion worth of food every year, with 38 percent of all prepared food going to waste. At the same time, Dubai is among the most expensive cities in the region. Peekabox positions itself squarely at the intersection of both crises, giving businesses incremental revenue from stock that would otherwise be thrown away, while putting quality meals within reach for everyday consumers.
The platform already counts over 1,000 stores and more than 40 leading brands in its network, including Carrefour, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, Eataly, Pret A Manger, and Address Hotels, with franchise operators such as Majid Al Futtaim and Apparel Group also on board.
The board chaired by Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, former Chairman and CEO of Dubai International Capital, and includes Fares Akkad, CEO of Meta MEA, and Yasser Abdulmalak, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé MENA.
Funding will go toward UAE go-to-market operations, with Saudi Arabia lined up as the next expansion target a market with over 4.1 million tonnes of addressable surplus food and 137,000-plus stores waiting to be tapped.
