Saudi Arabian entertainment and sports technology platform webook.com has announced its acquisition of SmartMove, a Portugal-based event technology company. The deal marks a significant step in the Saudi company’s global expansion strategy, establishing its first operational base in Europe.
Quick Facts
- Saudi platform webook.com acquires Portugal’s SmartMove.
- Marks webook.com’s first operational base in Europe.
- SmartMove has over 30 years of industry experience.
A Strategic Play for European Sports Tech
The acquisition combines webook.com’s experience in high-demand ticket sales, fan engagement, and AI-powered anti-scalping solutions with SmartMove’s deep-rooted expertise in the European sports market. With over 30 years in the industry, SmartMove provides the technical infrastructure for ticketing and fan memberships for major Portuguese football clubs, the Portuguese Football Federation, and the country’s professional league.
This move gives webook.com immediate access to an established client network and an experienced team in Europe. The company chose Portugal as its entry point due to its strong football culture, thriving tourism sector, and advanced digital infrastructure.
Antonio Bricatado, General Manager of SmartMove, commented on the deal: “We have established our position as a key partner in the Portuguese football ecosystem and across several other sports by providing integrated solutions that cover the full fan journey, from membership registration to ticketing and matchday experience management. With webook.com’s capabilities, investments, and broad global network, we are now in a strong position to scale this model and offer it to clubs and stadiums across Europe.”
From Riyadh to Lisbon: A Vision 2030 Milestone
This transaction highlights the growing ambition of Saudi technology companies to compete on a global scale, a key objective of Saudi Vision 2030. It positions webook.com as one of the first Saudi entertainment tech platforms to expand into Europe through a strategic acquisition.
Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com, said, “webook.com was founded in Saudi Arabia with a global ambition from day one. This transaction is a strong example of Saudi success in technology, reflecting the ability of Saudi companies to build platforms that can compete globally, attract international expertise and capabilities, and help shape the future of sports and entertainment technology.”
Bakhsh added that the enabling environment created by Vision 2030 has empowered Saudi companies to expand internationally. “By combining our capabilities and experience, we look forward to redefining the live entertainment booking experience for audiences and organizers across Europe,” he stated.
About webook.com
Founded in Saudi Arabia in 2014, webook.com is a global live experiences platform. It has grown to serve more than 17 million users across over 180 countries, processing more than 40 million ticket booking requests for major events in the region and beyond.
Source: entarabi
