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A brave new, virtual world – Saudi Arabia takes the lead in metaverse adoption

"Virtual learning environments can provide immersive educational experiences, interactive simulations and collaborative platforms for students and professionals to acquire new skills and knowledge”. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 15 April 2024
Reem Walid
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A brave new, virtual world – Saudi Arabia takes the lead in metaverse adoption

Updated 15 April 2024
Reem Walid

RIYADH: By breaking down geographical barriers, the metaverse — a digital space that uses virtual and augmented reality — is set to foster unprecedented levels of collaboration and connectivity.

From how individuals work, plan, design, and build to how they shop, relax, travel, and live, it will have a significant impact on almost every aspect of life.

But that’s not all. The metaverse is also projected to become a commercial space and tool for companies and customers alike in the near future.

Zooming into the Middle East region, the metaverse has significant potential to revitalize and transform key sectors. More importantly, it aligns with several objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in diversifying the economy and enhancing the quality of life in the Kingdom.

According to a recent report released by management consulting firm strategy& titled “A Middle East Perspective on the Metaverse,” the 3D enabled digital space’s potential contribution to Gulf Cooperation Council economies could reach an estimated $15 billion by 2030 of which Saudi Arabia alone is expected to grab a share of about $7.6 billion.

Allocating major investments

Saudi Arabia has also recently allocated resources to the metaverse as the Kingdom pursues ambitious digital transformation plans.

Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion giga-project NEOM has a metaverse component that already is being used to develop the city by informing the construction sector on the progress on the ground and providing architects, engineers, designers, and others with ways to collaborate and customize aspects of the project for real estate clients, the strategy& report revealed.

There is no doubt that the adoption of metaverse across industries in Saudi Arabia and the wider region will create new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

It will also allow users to engage in economic activity in a more decentralized and open way, thereby speeding efficiency across the many sectors.

According to Priyanka Sharma, associate partner, Bain & Co. Middle East, metaverse adoption will “increase access and scale of offerings, experiences, transcending demographic and geographic boundaries.”

This includes virtual events as well as immersive travel experiences.

Metaverse adoption will also help “support digital content, product development, and customization,” she added.

In addition, it will “provide a virtual playground for prototyping, experimentation and research with minimal incremental budget time across use cases,” Sharma emphasized.

Enhancing operational efficiency

According to Ahmed Al-Mashhadi, CEO of metaverse-as-a-service firm VEEM, the adoption of metaverse technologies in Saudi Arabia promises to significantly enhance operational efficiency across several sectors.

“Take real estate, for example,” he said. “By utilizing our virtual tours, clients can explore near-realistic off-plan projects in detail without physical travel, saving time and resources, and boost decision making.”

Nigel Vaz, CEO of global digital transformation consulting firm Publics Sapient, went on to shed light on some of the major sectors that have potential to employ metaverse applications.

“The metaverse, as an extension of this digital evolution, presents unparalleled opportunities for sectors like entertainment, real estate, and education,” he told Arab News.

Vaz added: “These sectors can harness the immersive and interactive capabilities of the metaverse to offer innovative services and experiences, from virtual real estate tours enhancing the buying experience to digital platforms that revolutionize learning and engagement in the education sector.”

From a gaming point of view, Mario Pérez, CEO of MENA Tech, pointed out how this industry is set to take advantage of metaverse applications.

“As virtual environments become more immersive and interconnected, we anticipate that gamers in these regions will experience enhanced social interactions, more diverse gaming experiences, and increased opportunities for community engagement,” he said.

Pérez added: “While it’s still early days for widespread adoption, we’re closely monitoring developments, especially considering the rapid growth of esports in Saudi Arabia.”

The CEO went on to note that, with the construction of Qiddiya City, one of the five megaprojects in Saudi Arabia and dedicated entirely to gaming – including hosting the first World Esports Championship – the region is “poised to become a hub for gaming innovation and development.”

He continued: “Metaverse will introduce innovative dimensions such as enhanced virtual social experiences, immersive gameplay, and interactive storytelling. These dimensions have the potential to revolutionize how gamers interact with each other and the virtual worlds they inhabit, fostering a vibrant gaming culture and community.

“Furthermore, the metaverse also offers promising sponsorship opportunities for brands to participate in various immersive experiences and create their virtual environments, allowing them to engage with consumers in novel and impactful ways.”

Pérez went on to shed light on how MENATech Entertainment, the regional division of GGTech Entertainment, has been actively exploring metaverse applications within its projects.

“As part of Amazon University Esports, which combines gaming competitions with educational activities and professional opportunities for university students, GGTech conducted its first pilot test last season with University World, a virtual environment designed to bring together participants from the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region,” he revealed.

The CEO added: “A significant advance is the experience gained from the creation of University World in the development of eWorlds, a multiplayer 3D platform game developed by GGTech Studios, the development arm of GGTech Entertainment.”

Other than gaming, there are several other sectors that will also be able to utilize the metaverse for their own benefit.

“Virtual property tours will allow potential buyers to explore properties in a comprehensive, virtual environment,” Joachim Allerup, expert partner in innovation and design, Bain & Co., told Arab News.

He added: “Urban planning simulations will enable urban planners and architects to model and simulate new projects and city layouts in the metaverse including digital twins and connected systems.”

The expert also unveiled that virtual shopping malls will create next generation e-commerce.

Additionally, interactive product demonstrations will offer customers the ability to explore and interact with products in a 3D virtual space, he pointed out.

Furthermore, Husam Yaghi, World Metaverse Council member, told Arab News that “tourism and education will benefit the most from metaverse applications in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.”

Aligning with Vision 2030 goals

Vaz underlined that the spate of developments in the metaverse sphere “align seamlessly with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, foster cultural and entertainment sectors, and build a knowledge-based society.”

He continued: “By integrating metaverse technologies, Saudi Arabia can advance its economic diversification, cultural enrichment, and educational transformation goals.”

Vaz also emphasized how his consulting firm Publics Sapient is committed to partnering with Saudi businesses and the government to navigate this digital transformation journey.

“Leveraging our global expertise and local insights, we aim to support the development of the metaverse ecosystem in the Kingdom, ensuring it contributes to the realization of Vision 2030 and positions Saudi Arabia as a leader in digital innovation on the global stage,” the CEO informed.

For his part, Pérez reiterated how the metaverse has the potential to align with Saudi Vision 2030 in several ways, particularly in advancing the goals of diversifying the economy, fostering innovation, and promoting digital transformation.

“One example is in the area of entertainment and tourism. As Saudi Arabia seeks to develop its tourism sector and become a global entertainment hub, the metaverse can provide virtual experiences that showcase the country’s cultural heritage, landmarks, and attractions to a global audience,” the CEO said.

He added: “Virtual tourism initiatives could complement physical tourism efforts, attracting visitors and generating revenue while promoting the cultural richness of Saudi Arabia.

“Also, the metaverse has the potential to enhance education and training initiatives in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on human capital development. Virtual learning environments can provide immersive educational experiences, interactive simulations and collaborative platforms for students and professionals to acquire new skills and knowledge.”

For his part, Yaghi said: “Saudi Arabia sees the metaverse as a key player in achieving its Vision 2030 goals and has created Saudi Arabia’s Center of Excellence for the metaverse. AI-Powered Metaverse for Riyadh Expo 2030 and Metaverse for K-12 Education are both examples of how the metaverse contributes to the Saudi Vision 2030.”

Allerup added: “The metaverse and associated technologies have the potential to cater to all pillars of the Saudi Vision 2030 given the variety of use cases and their impact across multiple sectors.”

Reskilling the workforce

When it comes to the labor market, it seems that current market data is not accurately reflecting the full picture just yet in terms of the unprecedented growth in projects related to the metaverse.

By all accounts, it is most likely that the current workforce will need reskilling. This is the process of teaching an employee new skills to boost and elevate proficiency whether for their current job or for a more advanced position.

“In the light of metaverse and mixed reality we can expect that almost all sectors will see the need for new capabilities. New ways of working, collaborating in virtual environments, proficiency with new age and ever-evolving tools/software, coding and development of digital assets will require everyone to reskill to leverage the opportunities of virtual worlds and mixed reality,” Sharma concluded.

 

Topics: virtual reality world

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Pakistan requests extra 10 billion yuan on China swap line, says finance minister

Updated 26 April 2025
Reuters
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Pakistan requests extra 10 billion yuan on China swap line, says finance minister

  • Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan aims to diversify its lending base by issuing panda bond
  • He expects IMF board to approve first loan review, climate resilience disbursement early next month
Updated 26 April 2025
Reuters

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has put in a request to China to augment its existing swap line by 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said, adding he expected the country would launch a Panda bond before year-end.

Pakistan has an existing 30 billion yuan swap line already, Aurangzeb told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group spring meetings in Washington.

“From our perspective, getting to 40 billion renminbi would be a good place to move toward ... we just put in that request,” Aurangzeb said.

China’s central bank has been promoting currency swap lines with a raft of emerging economies, including the likes of Argentina and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan has also made progress on issuing its first panda bond — debt issued on China’s domestic bond market, denominated in yuan. Talks with the presidents of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) — the two lenders who are in line to provide credit enhancements for the issue — had been constructive, he said.

“We want to diversify our lending base and we have made some good progress around that — we are hoping that during this calendar year we can do an initial print,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aurangzeb expected the IMF executive board to sign off in early May on the Staff Level Agreement on its new $1.3 billion arrangement under a climate resilience loan program as well as the first review of the ongoing $7 billion bailout program.

Getting the green light from the IMF board would trigger a $1 billion payout under the program, which the country secured in 2024 and has played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy.

Asked about the economic fallout from the tensions with India following the killing of 26 men at a tourist site earlier this month, Aurangzeb said it was “not going to be helpful.”

The attack triggered outrage and grief in India, along with calls for action against neighbor Pakistan, whom New Delhi accuses of funding and encouraging terrorism in Kashmir, a region both nations claim and have fought two wars over.

After the attack, India and Pakistan unleashed a raft of measures against each other, with Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines and suspending trade ties, and India suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that regulates water-sharing from the Indus River and its tributaries.

Trade flows between the two countries had already fallen off sharply following past frictions and totalled just $1.2 billion last year.

Aurangzeb estimated growth around 3% in the current financial year which ends in June 2025, and in the 4-5% range next year, with a view to hitting 6% thereafter.

Topics: Pakistan Pakistan China Ties Panda bonds Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Arab News Pakistan

Saudi PIF assets triple with 390% surge since 2016, 2030 target raised

Updated 26 April 2025
Nadin Hassan
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Saudi PIF assets triple with 390% surge since 2016, 2030 target raised

  • Record-breaking growth fuels job creation, sector expansion, and a powerful shift beyond oil
Updated 26 April 2025
Nadin Hassan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has recorded a 390 percent surge in assets under management since the launch of Vision 2030, according to the initiative’s latest annual report.

PIF’s assets have soared from $160 billion in 2016 to $941.3 billion in 2024, surpassing its annual target of $880 billion and underscoring the fund’s rapid growth trajectory under the Kingdom’s transformative agenda.

Building on this momentum, the wealth fund has revised its 2030 goal, raising its asset management target from $1.87 trillion to $2.67 trillion. The updated ambition reflects the fund’s strengthened position and growing influence in shaping Saudi Arabia’s future economy.

Between 2016 and 2024, PIF posted a compound annual growth rate of 22 percent, highlighting its consistent ability to generate strong returns while advancing national development priorities.

Driving forces behind PIF’s expansion

Following its restructuring under Vision 2030, PIF has transformed from a traditional sovereign wealth fund into a globally recognized driver of economic diversification and innovation.

The fund’s growth has been propelled by a proactive, diversified investment approach, with 40 percent of its portfolio allocated to Saudi companies and giga-projects. Simultaneously, it has made strategic international investments across high-potential sectors.

This balanced strategy has contributed to the expansion of priority industries within the Kingdom, including tourism, mining, culture, logistics, and technology, supporting efforts to build a resilient, diversified economy.

Economic impact and sectoral growth

PIF’s strategic investments have not only boosted economic growth but also stimulated private sector participation, created employment opportunities, and attracted foreign direct investment.

By 2024, the fund’s initiatives had contributed to the creation of 1.1 million jobs, a significant leap from 77,700 direct and indirect jobs recorded in 2021. Over the same period, the number of companies established with PIF’s support more than doubled, rising from 45 to 93 across 13 strategic sectors.

The fund achieved 48 percent local content across its projects by 2024, highlighting its strong commitment to driving domestic economic growth.

Between 2021 and the third quarter of 2024, PIF attracted more than $37.33 billion in private investments across a range of initiatives, according to the report.

Through its Private Sector Hub initiative, it published over 200 opportunities during this period, representing a total investment value of $10.67 billion.

In addition, more than 300 contractors have been pre-qualified, and over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises have been trained to collaborate with companies across PIF’s portfolio.

PIF’s role in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy has been pivotal.

According to the report, non-oil sectors accounted for 51 percent of the Kingdom’s real gross domestic product by 2024, a key milestone in achieving Vision 2030 goals.

The fund’s influence is evident in the launch of several megaprojects aimed at redefining the Kingdom’s economic landscape, ranging from world-class tourism destinations to advanced industrial zones.

PIF also played a crucial role in advancing financial sector reforms. The number of licensed asset managers in Saudi Arabia rose sharply from just five in 2019 to 36 in 2024, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing investment landscape and financial market sophistication.

Strengthening financial resilience

The fund has reinforced its financial base to support its ambitious investment strategy, highlighted by the transfer of 8 percent of Aramco shares. This move reduced the government’s direct ownership in the oil giant to 82.186 percent, enhancing PIF’s asset strength and investment capacity.

In addition, PIF secured $15 billion in syndicated credit facilities from 23 global financial institutions, significantly boosting its liquidity and financial flexibility. These initiatives align with PIF’s strategic objectives of developing new sectors, localizing knowledge and technology, and generating sustainable, high-quality employment opportunities across the Kingdom.

Global recognition

PIF’s transformation has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. The fund was named the world’s No.1 sovereign wealth fund brand by Brand Finance, with its brand value estimated at $1.1 billion.

Adding to its accolades, PIF swept four awards at the 2024 Middle East Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Conference, including Best Sukuk Deal, Best Landmark Deal, Best Semi-Sovereign Treasury and Funding Team, and Best Deal in Islamic Capital Markets.

Capital markets expansion

Saudi Arabia’s capital markets have grown in tandem with PIF’s rise, playing a critical role in broadening the nation’s economic base since the launch of Vision 2030.

Regulatory reforms—such as updates to the Companies Law and Government Tenders and Procurement Law—have enhanced transparency, strengthened investor confidence, and paved the way for a surge in initial public offerings.

The Saudi Exchange has seen remarkable expansion, with the number of listed companies increasing from 205 in 2019 to 353 in 2024. Foreign investor ownership more than doubled, reaching $112.8 billion in 2024 compared to $52.8 billion in 2019, while non-Saudi portfolio ownership grew from $29.3 billion in 2016 to $131.5 billion.

The number of individual portfolios on the Saudi Exchange also rose sharply, climbing from 9.2 million in 2016 to 13 million by 2024.

Meanwhile, Tadawul’s market capitalization (excluding Aramco) grew from 66.5 percent of GDP in 2019 to 86.7 percent in 2024, indicating the increasing maturity and depth of Saudi Arabia’s capital markets. The banking sector mirrored this growth, with total assets rising from $693.3 billion in 2019 to $1.12 trillion by the second quarter of 2024.

These developments have positioned Saudi Arabia’s financial sector as one of the most dynamic and accessible in the region, offering expanded opportunities for both local and global investors.

Reflecting this confidence, international credit rating agencies reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong economic outlook in 2024. Moody’s assigned an AA3 rating, Fitch rated the Kingdom at “A+,” and S&P Global Ratings gave it an “A/A-1” rating, all with stable outlooks.

Beyond Vision 2030

As the Kingdom prepares to enter the final phase of Vision 2030 delivery in 2026, the focus will increasingly shift toward building a sustainable and resilient private sector. Key priorities include reducing reliance on government support while fostering growth through regulatory enhancements, infrastructure development, and targeted investments.

Saudi Arabia envisions the private sector playing a leading role in advancing the economy, particularly in high-impact fields such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy.

By empowering private enterprises, the Kingdom aims to achieve its target of generating 65 percent of GDP from private sector activities, positioning it as a critical driver of sustainable growth in the decades beyond Vision 2030.

Topics: PIF SaudiVision2030

Pakistan’s forex reserves triple since early 2023 as central bank targets $14 billion

Updated 26 April 2025
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Pakistan’s forex reserves triple since early 2023 as central bank targets $14 billion

  • Central bank governor says Pakistan’s reserves have seen both qualitative and quantitative improvement
  • Governor Jamil Ahmed was briefing executives of global financial and investment institutions in the US
Updated 26 April 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have more than tripled since early 2023, driven by a surplus in the external current account rather than fresh borrowing, the top central bank official said, according to a statement on Saturday, as the country targets $14 billion in reserves by June.

Pakistan’s forex reserves had touched critically low levels two years ago, giving it an import cover of less than a month. Faced with the threat of a sovereign debt default, the country secured a $3 billion short-term International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, tightened fiscal and monetary policies, restricted imports and allowed greater exchange rate flexibility.

Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Jameel Ahmad, told senior executives from global financial and investment institutions on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington the country’s external buffers had seen a “substantial qualitative as well as quantitative improvement” since then, as he briefed them about the current economic situation.

“Unlike previous episodes of reserve build-up, the ongoing rise in external buffers is not due to any further accumulation of external debt,” he said. “In fact, Pakistan’s public sector external debt, both in absolute terms and as a percent of GDP, has declined since June 2022.”

Ahmad added that the central bank had been able to strengthen reserves through foreign exchange purchases in the open market, supported by a current account surplus.

“The SBP is targeting to increase [forex] reserves to $14 billion by June 2025,” he said.

Ahmad said Pakistan had made tangible progress in stabilizing its economy, crediting a prudent monetary policy and sustained fiscal consolidation efforts for the improvement.

He informed that headline inflation had declined sharply over the past two years, reaching a multi-decade low of 0.7 percent in March 2025, while core inflation had also dropped from above 22 percent to a single digit and was expected to moderate further in the coming months.

Topics: Pakistan’s forex reserves

Pakistan’s IT exports seen reaching $4 billion in FY25 as industry seeks tax relief

Updated 26 April 2025
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Pakistan’s IT exports seen reaching $4 billion in FY25 as industry seeks tax relief

  • Country’s software association calls IT industry the only sector with 75% trade surplus
  • Government has set an ambitious target of reaching $10 billion in IT exports by 2029
Updated 26 April 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s information technology (IT) sector expects exports to reach $4 billion in the current fiscal year and seeks regulatory reforms and a 10-year tax holiday to sustain growth momentum, said the country’s top software association on Saturday.

The IT sector is one of Pakistan’s priority industries as the country looks to boost export revenues and stabilize its external accounts.

Under the government’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, launched last year in December, Islamabad aims to raise IT exports to $10 billion by 2029.

Industry leaders say IT remains one of the few sectors capable of exponential growth despite the broader economic challenges.

“Muhammad Umair Nizam, Senior Vice Chairman of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), has apprised that information technology has become the fastest growing export industry of Pakistan – and, the country is set to achieve $4 billion in its IT exports for the FY25,” the software association said in a statement, adding that Pakistan’s IT exports stood at $3.2 billion in the last fiscal year with the prospect for a 25% year-on-year growth.

However, P@SHA warned regulatory bottlenecks and inconsistent tax policies were hampering the sector’s expansion at a time when new tech sub-sectors were emerging.

The association said it had also submitted detailed budget proposals to the government, seeking a facilitative framework that includes streamlined foreign exchange regulations, banking sector support, removal of sales tax anomalies and accelerated development of special technology zones and IT parks.

Pakistan’s IT industry is the only sector with a trade surplus of around 75%, the statement said, underlining its potential to create jobs, develop skilled human capital and reduce the trade deficit on a sustainable basis.

The software association also raised concerns over income tax disparities between salaried employees and freelancers, saying the current structure discourages formal employment and needs urgent correction in the upcoming federal budget.

Topics: Pakistan IT Pakistan IT exports tax relief

Saudi Arabia’s webook.com eyes billion-dollar valuation, global expansion

Updated 26 April 2025
Nour El-Shaeri
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Saudi Arabia’s webook.com eyes billion-dollar valuation, global expansion

Updated 26 April 2025
Nour El-Shaeri

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia-based event booking platform webook.com has unveiled an ambitious roadmap aimed at achieving a billion-dollar valuation and a future listing on the stock exchange.

Positioning itself as the “ultimate super app for fun,” the company is rapidly expanding its offerings beyond event ticketing. New services include flight and hotel bookings, restaurant reservations, sports facility access, and live streaming. The platform is also leveraging cutting-edge technology and forging strategic partnerships to accelerate its global reach.

In an interview with Arab News, Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com, highlighted the company’s growth strategy, structured around four key pillars: diversification, innovation, globalization, and automation.

“Our goal is to become the ultimate super app for fun worldwide, helping people discover and book experiences that bring them together,” Bakhsh said.

Strategic blueprint for growth

Webook.com’s roadmap—referred to internally as DIGA—outlines a methodical approach to scaling the business and establishing a global presence.

The first pillar, diversification, focuses on broadening revenue streams by integrating travel and hospitality services such as flights, hotels, and dining. The company is also fostering fan communities to deepen user engagement.

Innovation plays a central role, with webook.com deploying advanced technologies to streamline the user experience. New features include ticket auctions, built-in resale options, anti-scalping protections, and interactive community tools, all designed to offer a secure and seamless platform.

Under its globalization initiative, webook.com has already launched operations in eight countries and continues to grow its international team to support further expansion.

Meanwhile, automation is enabling the company to scale efficiently. By optimizing its engineering and operational infrastructure, webook.com aims to deliver a frictionless customer experience while supporting its broader growth ambitions.

Rapid international expansion and user growth 

The event platform is rapidly expanding its international footprint, claiming a user base of more than 7 million across 160 countries and access to over 520 global events since its launch.

The company credits its rapid growth to an unwavering focus on user experience and strategic collaborations.

Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com.

“User experience is at the heart of our success,” said Bakhsh. “We have built a strong design and research team that benchmarks best practices from industries such as banking, e-commerce, transport, and social networks.”

In addition to refining its platform’s usability, webook.com has developed tailored tools for event organizers and partners, ensuring system stability even during peak demand.

“Unlike recently publicized high-profile concerts like Taylor Swift and Coldplay, where overwhelming demand left fans frustrated, our infrastructure guarantees high performance,” the CEO noted.

Lifestyle integration, dining partnerships

Expanding its footprint beyond ticketing, webook.com is weaving lifestyle services into its ecosystem. A notable partnership with dining reservation platform Servme aims to enhance the post-event experience by linking event attendees with nearby restaurants in Saudi Arabia.

“We have 8 million users, many of whom actively seek entertainment and dining experiences,” Bakhsh said. “During peak season, we process an average of 100,000 tickets per day, with a high of 150,000 on a single day. Each ticket presents an opportunity to upsell dining options.”

Using data-driven personalization, webook.com recommends dining venues based on users’ tastes and spending habits.

“Seamless integration allows users to book restaurants near their event venue effortlessly, enhancing their overall experience while driving traffic to restaurant partners,” Bakhsh explained.

Boosting digital streaming capabilities

In parallel, the platform is advancing its digital streaming features, bolstered by exclusive rights to Riyadh Season events.

“Our streaming service is built on a scalable infrastructure that can handle millions of users simultaneously,” Bakhsh said.

To enrich the virtual experience, the company is integrating interactive features such as live polls, real-time chat, and merchandise auctions during concerts.

“Our goal is to offer a virtual front-row experience, ensuring users never miss a moment, whether they are at the venue or streaming remotely,” Bakhsh said.

Looking ahead, webook.com is also building out pay-per-view capabilities for sports events, including boxing, and exploring multi-angle viewing to create a more immersive streaming experience.

Tackling fraud and enhancing security

Ticket fraud remains a widespread issue in the live events industry, and webook.com is taking aggressive measures to address it. Over the past year, the platform has nullified 40,000 black market tickets and shut down more than 5,000 fraudulent accounts.

“We have also launched a verified resale platform, which has facilitated the sale of over 200,000 tickets through official channels,” said Bakhsh.

In addition to digital safeguards, the company is pursuing legal action against major black market platforms.

“While fraudsters continuously adapt, our dedicated anti-fraud team works proactively to stay ahead, ensuring a safe and seamless experience for our users,” he added.

Strengthening sports ticketing presence

Webook.com has recently secured a three-year partnership with the Roshn Saudi League to manage ticket sales for football matches, reinforcing its role in the sports sector.

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to be the gateway for entertainment,” Bakhsh said. “It allows us to strengthen our presence in sports ticketing while providing fans with a seamless booking experience on one platform.”

Future plans include exclusive fan content, loyalty programs, and community-driven in-app features.

“For the league, it ensures a reliable and fraud-free ticketing system while expanding reach through webook.com’s growing user base,” he said.

From local roots to global vision

The company’s journey began under its original name, Halayalla, which Bakhsh said was limiting in terms of international reach.

“Our former and original brand had a very local flair but didn’t translate internationally and wasn’t descriptive as to what we do,” he explained.

Following extensive market research and testing, the company rebranded to webook.com, a move that significantly boosted its global recognition and credibility.

IPO preparations underway

As part of its long-term vision, webook.com is actively preparing for an initial public offering. The company is enhancing its internal governance, aligning with global regulatory standards, and bringing in experienced leadership.

“Over the past year and a half, we have been hiring a CFO with IPO experience and engaging a top consultancy for an IPO readiness assessment,” Bakhsh said.

“Our three-to-four-year timeline for the listing is carefully structured, with every step aligned to ensure a smooth transition to becoming a publicly traded company.”

The company is also working with leading consultants to streamline operations and ensure full transparency under public market scrutiny.

Looking ahead

With operations already established in Morocco and Bahrain, webook.com is now focused on Europe as it charts its five-year growth trajectory.

“Our vision is to make webook.com a household name from Hawaii to Tokyo,” Bakhsh said.

To achieve this, the company plans continued investments in technology, talent, brand development, and platform security—while keeping customer satisfaction at the forefront.

“We remain committed to delivering the best possible experience for our users as the super app for fun,” he said, adding: “Our priority is ensuring users can easily discover, book, and enjoy world-class events effortlessly.”

With its momentum building, webook.com is poised to reshape the global event booking landscape through innovation, security, and a customer-first approach.

Topics: Start-up of the Week Startup of the Week SOTW

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