Webook, Saudi Arabia’s leading event and experience booking platform, is preparing for a major global expansion,
targeting key European markets to tap into the growing digital ticketing industry.
Founded in 2016 under the name “Hala Yalla,” Webook initially specialized in football field bookings before expanding its services to cover major events, hospitality, and mass sports experiences.
To date, the company claims to have sold over 10 million tickets and attracted 8 million unique users.
Following its regional success in the UAE, Morocco, and Bahrain, Webook is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands,
according to co-founder and COO Farukh Bandey. “Global expansion is critical,” Bandey emphasized, adding that the company aims to go public within the next three to five years.
In line with its growth strategy, Webook recently opened a new office in Dubai, identifying the UAE as its second-largest market after Saudi Arabia.
This expansion coincides with a major transformation in Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping reforms since 2017.
In 2016, the Saudi government established the General Entertainment Authority to bolster the sector’s contribution to the economy, aiming for a target of $23 billion by 2030 under Vision 2030.
Reflecting on the company’s beginnings, Bandey said, “We were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.”
Today, Webook facilitates ticketing for major events like the Saudi Grand Prix, the FIFA Club World Cup, Visit Saudi tourism experiences, and more than 90% of Saudi Pro League matches.
The company also aims to secure contracts for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
However, Bandey acknowledged that entering the UK market—the world’s third-largest online ticketing market valued at $4.3 billion in 2022—poses significant challenges,
citing fierce competition from established players like Ticketmaster, which has exclusive partnerships with major venues and events.
“There’s fierce competition in this space,” Bandey noted, “but we are determined to make our mark globally.”
