Al-Ahli Club

Al-Ahli Club is a sport club in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one of the clubs of the Saudi Pro League. Based in Jeddah, it is the first Saudi club to host international legends such as Maradona and Pelé.

Al-Ahli Club is one of Saudi Arabia's oldest sport clubs. The concept of its establishment was conceived by a group of students from Al-Falah School in Jeddah. The club was officially founded in 1937 by a dedicated group of young men: Hassan Shams, Abdulraouf Batterjee, Abduljalil Batterjee, Hassan Batterjee, Omar Shams, Mohammed Al-Sayegh, Omar Baqis, Ibrahim Nashar, Ibrahim Bakr, Ibrahim Zahran, Mohammed Tunisi, Ali Saber, and Hussein Saber. Its headquarters are situated on Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Street (Tahlia).

Al-Ahli Club offers a range of sport, including football, taekwondo, volleyball, handball, table tennis, diving, athletics, judo, fencing, karate, water polo, basketball, badminton, weightlifting, tennis, boxing, wrestling, swimming, cycling, billiards, darts, chess, e-sport, and gymnastics.

In 2005, Al-Ahli Club established a football academy, as well as the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Center for Youth and Juniors. The academy received the Excellence Award as the best sport facility at the Soccerex Global Convention in its ninth edition. In 2006, it obtained official licensing as the first specialized Saudi sport academy in football. Then, in 2018, it received ISO certification as the first football sport academy in the Gulf region to achieve compliance with international quality standards. The academy works on discovering talented young athletes, training them, honing their skills, and nurturing their development.

On June 5, 2023, the Ministry of Sport announced the transformation of Al-Ahli Club into a company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with the establishment of an investment fund for the company. The club's value would be deposited into the investment fund in exchange for the transfer of ownership. The objective is to achieve sustainable returns for the club company. The PIF would hold a 75 percent stake in the company, with the remaining 25 percent owned by a non-profit organization. This initiative aligns with the investment and privatization project launched by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Al-Ahli Club boasts a variety of women's sport, including football, volleyball, handball, and basketball. Notable achievements in women's sport at Al-Ahli Club include winning the Women's Handball League and securing the Saudi Women's Cup.

On July 3, 2009, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud honored Al-Ahli Club by naming it the "Ambassador of the Nation" and awarding it the Shield for Sport Excellence. The King welcomed in his palace the Chairman of the Honorary Members Board, Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah, along with honorary members, several former club presidents, management, and players.

In the 1980s, Al-Ahli Club assembled a stellar lineup of internationally renowned coaches and players, including the legendary coach Didi, the first Brazilian to manage a Saudi club, and Tele Santana, who had previously coached the Brazilian national team. The club’s shirt was worn by some of the greatest football stars in history, such as Diego Maradona, Pele, and Johan Cruyff.

In the 2022 season, Al-Ahli was relegated to the First Division (Yelo League) for the first time in its history, but made a swift return to the Saudi Pro League the following season.

Al-Ahli Club's official website can be found at https://www.alahlifc.sa/. It features several sections, including news, a media center, details about the club's games, a gallery of photos and videos, and a brief history of the club's founding. The club also maintains active social media accounts on X, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, where they post daily updates and news.