“They are not providing us our legal rights according to law and decreasing rates while petrol prices are going up every month,” said Naeem Iqbal, a Deliveroo rider, on Twitter.

Iqbal said the number of working hours had also increased to 11 or 12 hours a day.

“We are human[s] not donkey[s],” he added.

The drivers said Deliveroo’s policies were in violation of the United Arab Emirates’ labour law, citing the lack of severance pay and health insurance, visa costs, and no flight ticket home after two years of work.

Riders say Deliveroo had told them that the new rate per order was 8.75 dirhams ($2.4). Before May 1, the rate was 10.25 dirhams ($2.8). Some riders also shared screenshots of their 13-hour work schedules, and complained that they pay for fuel from their own pockets.

The strike proved to be successful, forcing Deliveroo to revert its policies back to what they were before the riders took action.