نورهان فؤاد
Saudi Entertainment and Sports Technology Platform webook.com Expands into Europe with the Acquisition of SmartMove
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 10, 2026—webook.com announced today its acquisition of SmartMove, a Portugal-based company specializing in event technology, membership management, ticketing systems, access control, customer relationship management, e-commerce solutions, and digital event operations.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s technology sector, positioning webook.com as one of the first Saudi entertainment and sports technology platforms to pursue global expansion through the acquisition of a European technology platform. The move reflects the growing capabilities of Saudi companies to export technology, expand into international markets, and contribute to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Founded in 2014 in Saudi Arabia to meet the growing demand for major events in the region, webook.com has evolved into a global live experiences platform, reaching more than 17 million users across over 180 countries and processing more than 40 million ticket booking requests. Through the acquisition of SmartMove, the platform enters a new phase in its journey by establishing its first operational base in Europe, enabling it to expand its technologies, partnerships, and operations across the continent.
SmartMove brings more than 30 years of experience in the industry and is considered one of Portugal’s leading sports technology companies. The company provides the technical infrastructure for ticketing platforms and fan membership systems for major Portuguese clubs, the Portuguese Football Federation, the Portuguese Professional Football League, national cup competitions, and corporate ticketing platforms.
The acquisition combines SmartMove’s deep expertise in club membership management, ticketing systems, access control, and event management with webook.com’s capabilities in event discovery, high-demand ticket sales, fan engagement, AI-powered anti-scalping solutions, identity-linked ticketing, digital commerce, and scalable event infrastructure.
Commenting on the 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.
He added: Saudi Vision 2030 has created an enabling environment for Saudi companies to think bigger and expand into global markets with confidence. Through this deal, we are strengthening our presence in Europe with a strong operational base through SmartMove, supported by its specialized expertise in football memberships, ticketing, and matchday experiences. By combining our capabilities and experience, we look forward to redefining the live entertainment booking experience for audiences and organizers across Europe.
webook.com selected Portugal as its gateway to European operations, leveraging the country’s strong position in football, its thriving tourism sector, advanced digital infrastructure, and dynamic live events and entertainment industry. Through the acquisition of SmartMove, webook.com strengthens its presence in the European market with an experienced team, an established client network, and a technology platform deeply rooted in the local market.
Antonio Bricatado, General Manager of SmartMove, said: 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.
Bakhsh added: “This is the kind of global growth that Saudi technology companies are now capable of achieving. Our achievements are no longer limited to expanding beyond the Kingdom; we are now taking to the world the advanced infrastructure, leading operational expertise, and ambition we have developed in Saudi Arabia to compete internationally.”
webook.com is expected to announce further partnerships and projects in Europe in the coming weeks as it continues to expand its global presence.
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