Dubai’s daily lunch scene is changing fast and a new AI-powered app, funch, is leading the charge. With more than 60% of UAE residents ordering food delivery at least once a week, costs, choice overload, and decision fatigue have become part of the daily work routine. funch introduces a smarter, simpler alternative with a flat fee of AED 19/day that gives professionals a true “set-and-forget” solution. Cutting typical lunch costs by up to 50% and removing the hassle of daily ordering.
Traditional weekly meal plans often renew even when users skip meals, creating waste and extra cost. funch replaces this with its flexible credits system, giving subscribers full control. Users can buy credits to use whenever they need, or set auto-renew so credits top up the moment they run low. Once preferences and delivery windows are set, lunch simply arrives. No daily decisions. No daily browsing of menus. No delivery fees.
Co-founded by Ahmad Joehnny, formerly at Delivery Hero and Zalando, and Ghada Zanaty, ex-WE Egypt, OmanTel, Able App, funch was designed to eliminate lunchtime friction entirely. During its stealth phase, the team quietly delivered over 75,000 meals to Dubai’s office workers.
“Today’s food delivery experience is designed for spontaneous ordering,” explains Ahmad Joehnny, Co-Founder and CEO, funch. “Current providers rely on endless options, layered discounts, minimum order requirements, and daily fees. We built funch for the millions of people who want workplace lunch without the complications.”
“Our customers aren’t just buying lunch, they’re buying head space,” adds Ghada El Zanaty, Co-Founder and COO, funch. The funch model champions pre-planned orders, so we reduce waste and operate with greater efficiency. Fewer vehicles and trips to serve higher volumes, fewer emissions, promoting sustainability, which is aligned with Dubai 2040, the government’s strategic plan to guide the city’s development. It focuses on creating a more sustainable, people-centred, globally competitive city.”
Operating from a 2,000 sq ft kitchen in Dubai, funch achieved rapid early traction with high retention and a 99.8% delivery accuracy rate.
While the service feels effortless to users, funch is engineered as an AI-native company. AI forecasts demand, optimises delivery routes, reduces waste, rotates menus intelligently, and streamlines operations, keeping meals affordable without adding complexity.
“AI helps us run smarter, not louder,” adds Joehnny. “It keeps the service consistent, efficient, and accessible.”
It’s a smart start-up that has attracted major investors. funch’s $500K pre-seed round includes Angelspark and a group of influential strategic investors. Among them is Mostafa Kandil, founder of Swvl, the Arab entrepreneur recently praised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for creating the region’s first US$1.5B Nasdaq-listed mobility unicorn.
Joining the round is Mahesh Murthy, renowned Indian marketer, founder of Pinstorm, and veteran early-stage investor known for backing digital-first ventures, along with Tushar F., Hamed Mustafa, Rutvik Deepak, and others.
funch aims to deliver one million lunches by Q2 2026, establishing the Middle East’s first true lunch infrastructure. And its mission is simple: make lunch effortless, affordable, and automatic so the region’s workforce can focus on their daily task.
Start your simpler lunch routine today for just AED 19/day Monday to Saturday. Visit the funch website and download the funch app HERE
