Foundation and early years Al-Ahli Saudi Football Club was founded in 1937 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The idea of establishing the club came from a group of students from Al-Falah School, who sought to create a sporting institution that would represent the city and promote organized football activities. In its early years, Al-Ahli participated in regional competitions in the
Western Province, gradually building its reputation as one of the strongest teams in
Jeddah. The club played a key role in the development of organized football in Saudi Arabia before the establishment of national league competitions. On 2 July 2025, Al Ahli Saudi FC unveiled their new logo. Al Ahli Saudi FC logo (before 2025).svg|Logo 2009-2025 Al Ahli Saudi FC logo.svg|Logo present since 2025
1950s: Growth and domestic prominence During the 1950s, Al-Ahli began achieving significant success in domestic tournaments. The club won its first major title, the
Crown Prince Cup, in the 1956–57 season, marking the beginning of its emergence as a competitive force in Saudi football. Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Al-Ahli consistently competed for national honors and contributed players to the Saudi national team. The club became known for its technical style of play and its focus on youth development, establishing a strong foundation that would later define one of the most successful periods in its history.
1960s and 1970s: Golden era Al-Ahli won 7 Saudi League titles, five of them being consecutive league titles without a single defeat, 4
King Cup and one
Crown Prince Cup, establishing itself as the strongest club across Saudi Arabia. These titles were later officially recognized, The Argentine footballer wore an Al-Ahli jersey and participated in the celebratory match held in Jeddah.
1990s: Competitive but Runner-ups In the 1990s, Al‑Ahli continued to be one of Saudi Arabia’s most competitive clubs, frequently finishing near the top of the
Saudi Pro League but narrowly missing out on the championship. They were league runners‑up several times in this decade, including in
1989‑90,
1995‑96, and
1998‑99, demonstrating consistent strength in domestic competition. The club’s major success in this period came in knockout football, particularly with their
Crown Prince Cup triumph in
1998, when they lifted the trophy in an exciting final, adding an important domestic silverware to their history.
2000s: Regional Glory Era in the 2000s though the Saudi league title still remained out of reach. They recorded strong finishes in the
Saudi Pro League and enjoyed success in cup competitions, most notably winning the
Crown Prince Cup in
2002 and
2007. In addition to cup glory, the club captured multiple
Saudi Federation Cup titles (such as in 2001, 2002, and 2007), reinforcing their knack for knockout competition. Regionally, Al‑Ahli also captured the
Arab Club Champions Cup in
2002 and the
Gulf Club Champions League in
2002 and
2008 during this decade, adding international silverware to their trophy cabinet and further enhancing their reputation beyond Saudi borders.
2010s: Historic treble The 2010s marked a resurgence and arguably one of the most successful decades in Al‑Ahli’s modern history. Al‑Ahli steadily built momentum that set the stage for their historic breakthrough. Although the early part of the decade saw the club as strong league contenders, finishing as runners‑up in the
2011–12 Saudi Pro League and again in
2014–15 Saudi Pro League , it was in cup competitions where they truly shined. Al‑Ahli captured the
King’s Cup twice during this period, securing back‑to‑back titles in
2011 and
2012, affirming their strength in knockout football. The club capped this pre‑treble era by winning the
2014–15 Saudi Crown Prince Cup in the season, their sixth overall in the competition, when they defeated
Al-Hilal 2–1 in the final. During this era, the club also set a league record with a 51‑match unbeaten streak in the Saudi Pro League and reaffirmed themselves as one of the country’s top football forces. After 32 years of near‑misses, they finally won the
Saudi Pro League the club secured a historic treble under the management of Swiss coach
Christian Gross by winning the
2015–16 Saudi Pro League Al-Ahli earned the league title two rounds before the end, after a 3–1 victory against rivals
Al-Hilal at the
King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Syrian striker
Omar Al Somah scored two goals. Al-Ahli captured the
2016 King Cup, defeating
Al-Nassr 2–1 in the final, with
Al-Somah once again scoring. Later that year, Al-Ahli completed the treble by winning the
2016 Saudi Super Cup, held in London at
Craven Cottage (the home stadium of Fulham FC), after defeating Al-Hilal on penalties following a 1–1 draw.
Al-Ahli vs FC Barcelona friendly match (2016) On 13 December 2016, Al-Ahli played a friendly match against
FC Barcelona at the
Thani bin Jassim Stadium in
Doha,
Qatar. The match was part of the "Champions Match" organized by
Qatar Airways, which was the official sponsor of both clubs at the time Barcelona won the match 5–3, with goals scored by
Lionel Messi,
Neymar,
Luis Suárez,
Paco Alcácer, and
Rafinha. Al-Ahli responded with three goals of their own.
2020s: The Downfall and Asia Elite triumph The 2020s began with contrasting fortunes for Al‑Ahli. In
2021–22 Saudi Pro League, for the first time in their long history, the club suffered relegation from the
Saudi Pro League, marking a dramatic low point to
Saudi First Division. However, they immediately bounced back in the
2022–23 Saudi First Division League season by winning League and securing promotion back to the top tier, showing resilience and ambition. On 3 May 2025, Al-Ahli were crowned champions of the
2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite after defeating Japanese side
Kawasaki Frontale in the
final with a score of 2–0. The match was held at
King Abdullah Sport City in
Jeddah.
Galeno scored the first goal at 35th minute with an out of the box shot to the top right corner, and
Franck Kessie scored the second with a header at 42nd minute, the two goals were assisted by
Roberto Firmino This marked Al-Ahli's first title in the
AFC Champions League. In 23 August 2025, Al-Ahli won the
2025 Saudi Super Cup, held in
Hong Kong, after defeating
Al-Nassr 5–3 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in the final. The victory marked the club’s second Super Cup title and their first since 2016. Al-Ahli successfully defended their title in the
2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, defeating Japanese side
Machida Zelvia 1–0 after extra time in the final held at
King Abdullah Sports City in
Jeddah scored by
Firas Al-Buraikan at 96th minute. This victory secured the club’s second continental title and marked their first back-to-back Asian championship, establishing Al-Ahli among the elite clubs in history Asian football.
Shield of Sports Excellence and the title of ambassador of the homeland In 2009, the club celebrated its 75th anniversary. On 3 July 2009, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz received the heads and members of the honor of the club and its board of directors, on the occasion of Al-Ahli winning four International titles in 2008. The club was awarded the highest honor; it was presented with the shield of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for sports excellence, and the title "Ambassador of the Homeland".
The Jeddah Derby The Jeddah Derby refers to the rivalry between Al-Ahli and
Al-Ittihad Club, the two major football clubs based in
Jeddah. The fixture is one of the most prominent derbies in Saudi football, reflecting the city’s deep sporting culture and passionate fan bases. Matches between the two sides are regularly contested in domestic competitions such as the
Saudi Pro League and the
King’s Cup, often drawing large attendances and significant media attention. The rivalry dates back decades and is known for its intense atmosphere both on and off the pitch. == Al-Ahli's relationship with Brazilian football ==