In a $25 million all-cash deal, Footballco, one of the world’s leading digital football content and media businesses, has bought Kooora, the most prominent digital sports publisher in the Middle East.
Founded in 2002 by Khalid Aldoseri in Bahrain, the digital sports brand has amassed over seven million social media followers over the past twenty years. It attracts a monthly average of 25 million users across the MENA region, who tune in for Arabic and English coverage of 42 sports, the most popular being football. Approximately 85% of the content falls under football, and it has garnered a reputation for its promptness and credibility.
The acquisition will complement Footballco’s current footprint in the Middle East, served by seven local editions of GOAL, published in both English and Arabic and more than doubles Footballco’s audience in the region, increasing its monthly global reach to 640 million fans.
The acquisition comes when fans across the world are looking ahead to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East.
Kooora’s founder, Khalid Aldoseri, said: “I’m proud to have founded Kooora and to have taken it to this level, and I’m excited to see how far it can grow as part of Footballco. Since the day it was launched, we have worked hard to build and maintain the pioneering position of Kooora.com at all levels.
“Setting standards and sustaining them is one challenge that was not subject to any compromise. We look forward to kooora.com growing and expanding onto higher realms as part of Footballco, striving to always serve a valuable and precious Arabic-speaking user base of sports fans.”
“It is all about the solidarity, synchrony, harmony, and hard work that have always been common elements within Kooora’s work environment,” Aldoseri added.
The COO of Karmic Consultancy, the management company of Kooora.com, Mustafa Mohamed, reacting to the new deal, said: “The family and team spirit brought us to this point. Thanks to each member in the team, and look forward to achieving more great results with the massive global value Footballco would bring to the formula”.
Footballco CEO, Juan Delgado, said: “Kooora supercharges our global and Middle East footprint at a time when more eyes will be on the sport and the region.
“As a core market for Footballco, being the number one football platform in the Middle East is a must, allowing us to serve its young, growing and football-mad population. It is an affluent digital market, which allows us to continue to populate our map with leading local publishing brands alongside GOAL’s global scale.”
Footballco will be moving its regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia, integrating both Kooora and GOAL’s operations in the region to strengthen its presence in the Middle East.
Last Updated on August 20, 2022 by Safiya K
