Saudi-born entertainment and sports technology platform webook.com has entered the European market through the acquisition of Portugal-based event technology company SmartMove, a strategic move that strengthens the company’s international footprint and highlights the growing global ambitions of Saudi technology firms.
The acquisition provides webook.com with an operational base in Europe while expanding its capabilities across ticketing, membership management, access control, customer relationship management, e-commerce, and digital event operations. While financial details were not disclosed, the company stated that its platform has served more than 17 million users across over 180 countries and processed more than 40 million ticket bookings.
The deal represents a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s emerging technology sector, demonstrating how companies that initially grew alongside the Kingdom’s domestic digital transformation are increasingly pursuing international expansion opportunities.
SmartMove brings more than three decades of experience in event technology and serves sports clubs, leagues, venues, and event operators. Its expertise in football membership programmes, ticketing systems, and matchday operations provides webook.com with established market knowledge and infrastructure in one of the world’s most mature sports and entertainment markets.
The acquisition comes as Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and sports sectors continue to expand rapidly under Vision 2030. The Kingdom has invested heavily in developing entertainment infrastructure, hosting international sporting events, and building digital platforms that support fan engagement and event experiences.
According to official figures, Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector attracted more than 89 million visitors in 2025, reflecting the rapid growth of the industry. At the same time, the Kingdom’s sports market is projected to grow substantially over the remainder of the decade as investments continue across professional sports, venues, fan experiences, and supporting technologies.
Digital platforms are playing an increasingly important role in this growth. Ticketing systems, loyalty programmes, digital memberships, event management solutions, and fan engagement technologies have become essential components of modern sports and entertainment ecosystems. As a result, companies operating in this space are increasingly seeking scale through acquisitions, technology integration, and international market expansion.
For webook.com, the acquisition strengthens its position within the global event technology market while providing access to European customers, operational expertise, and established industry relationships. The move also reflects a broader trend of technology companies pursuing international growth through acquisitions that provide immediate market access and specialized capabilities.
The transaction underscores the increasing maturity of Saudi Arabia’s technology ecosystem. Rather than focusing solely on domestic growth, Saudi technology firms are beginning to compete internationally, acquire overseas assets, and expand into established global markets.
As sports and entertainment become increasingly digitized, technology platforms that can support ticketing, memberships, venue access, customer engagement, and data-driven operations are expected to play a growing role in shaping the future of live events worldwide.
Editor’s Note
The acquisition of SmartMove is significant because it represents a shift in Saudi Arabia’s technology narrative, from technology adoption to technology export.
For much of the past decade, the Kingdom’s digital transformation story centered on attracting investment, building infrastructure, and encouraging international technology companies to establish a local presence. Increasingly, however, Saudi-born companies are beginning to expand beyond domestic markets and compete internationally.
This evolution reflects the maturation of the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem. As local companies gain scale, operational expertise, and access to capital, they are becoming capable of acquiring foreign businesses and entering highly competitive international markets. That is a notable milestone for any emerging technology ecosystem.
The transaction also highlights the growing convergence between technology and the sports and entertainment industries. Modern sporting events and entertainment experiences depend heavily on digital infrastructure, including ticketing platforms, access management systems, customer analytics, loyalty programmes, and e-commerce capabilities. These technologies have become strategic assets rather than supporting functions.
For Saudi Arabia, the deal aligns closely with Vision 2030’s objective of creating globally competitive companies capable of contributing to economic diversification beyond traditional sectors. The acquisition demonstrates how investments in local innovation ecosystems can eventually produce companies with international ambitions and global relevance.
The European expansion is particularly important because it places a Saudi-developed platform in one of the world’s most established sports and entertainment markets. Success in such environments can help validate business models, accelerate product development, and create opportunities for further international growth.
The broader implication is that Saudi Arabia’s technology sector is entering a new phase. The next measure of success will not simply be the number of technology companies operating in the Kingdom, but the number of Saudi-built platforms capable of competing globally, acquiring international assets, and exporting technology expertise to international markets.
