Al-Ula FC

Al-Ula

Full name	Al-Ula Football Club
Nickname(s)	Al-Nomur Al-Arabiya (The Arabian Tigers)
Founded	1981; 44 years ago (1981)
Ground	Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Medina
Capacity	24,000
Owner	Royal Commission for Al-'Ula
Chairman	Ziad Al-Suhaibani
Manager	Hichame Zahid
League	Second Division League
2023–24	Saudi Third Division, 1st (promoted)
Website	https://alulaclub.sa/
Home colours

Al-Ula Football Club is a football club based in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1981, they are currently members of the Saudi Second Division League, the third tier of the Saudi football league system.^[1] They play their home matches at the 24,000-seater Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.^[2]

History

The roots of the foundation of Al-Ula FC go back to 1978 when a friendly match was held between two amateur sides in the city.^[3] The match was attended by the governor of Medina Province at the time Prince Abdul Muhsin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Following the match's success, the two teams' leaders agreed to merge both clubs into one that would represent the governorate. The club was officially registered with the General Presidency of Youth Welfare in 1981 under the name of Wadi Al-Qura. A few years later the club changed their to Al-Ula. Since its inception, the club has had eight presidents, with Mousa Abdulwahed being the first.^[4]

Al-Ula had a relatively anonymous existence in the lower tiers of Saudi football until June 2023, when the club came under the control of the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula, a state commission under Mohammed bin Salman as part of the Saudi Vision 2030.^[5][6][7]

As part of the takeover, the club made substantial investments in new players, including Brazilian forward Allan Sousa, who joined from Danish club AaB for an annual salary believed to be €2.5 million. This significant signing occurred despite the club's participation in the Saudi Third Division, which is the fourth tier of the Saudi football league system.^[8][9] Sousa was presented alongside Nigerian forward Christian Irobiso.^[10] Sousa and Irobiso became the first foreign players in the club's history. In addition to Sousa and Irobiso's signings, the club also made other high-profile signings including former Saudi international Hamad Al-Juhaim, Ghallab Al-Enezi, Fahad Al-Johani and Muhannad Awadh. All of whom joined from First Division sides. During the January transfer window, Al-Ula made further additions to their squad including First Division top scorer Ousmane Barry, and Pro League winners Aqeel Baalghyth and Housain Al-Mogahwi. On 8 March 2024, Al-Ula secured promotion to the third tier, the Saudi Second Division League, for the first time in history after beating Al-Fao 3–1 in the final matchday of the group stages.^[11] On 23 March 2024, Al-Ula won the Saudi Third Division for the first time after defeating Al-Anwar 8–7 on penalties (2–2 after extra time) in the final.^[12]

Honours

• Saudi Third Division (Level 4)
  • Winners (1): 2023–24

Current squad

As of 20 September 2024^[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  KSA Ahmed Al Jubaya 2 DF  KSA Yousef Haqawi 5 MF  BRA Eduardo Henrique 6 MF  KSA Gusay Al-Shelali 7 MF  KSA Housain Al-Mogahwi 8 MF  KSA Nasser Al-Daajani 9 FW  GUI Ousmane Barry 10 FW  BRA Allan Sousa 11 MF  KSA Ammar Al-Harfi 12 DF  KSA Khaled Al-Shamrani 14 DF  MAR Ismael Mokadem 17 MF  KSA Ayman Al-Khulaif 19 DF  KSA Abdulaziz Al-Alawi

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  KSA Thaar Al-Otaibi 21 DF  KSA Aqeel Baalghyth 24 DF  KSA Ali Al-Zubaidi 26 GK  KSA Mazyad Freeh 27 FW  KSA Fahad Al-Asmari 45 MF  KSA Faisal Al-Asmari 49 MF  KSA Ahmed Al-Zain 55 MF  KSA Nasser Al-Hadhood 66 DF  KSA Khaled Al-Ruwaili 72 GK  KSA Salem Qabbos 77 FW  KSA Emad Al-Kanani 87 MF  KSA Zaid Al-Enezi

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 FW  NGA Christian Irobiso (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești)

Esports

Despite being a team in the Saudi Second Division, Al-Ula was able to sign esports teams for the 2024 Esports World Cup, held in Saudi Arabia. They signed all-British Call of Duty: Warzone roster that finished 19th in their tournament and partnered with the reigning PUBG Mobile world champions in IHC Esports for the PUBG Mobile World Cup.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "العلا - Al-Ula".
2. "Al Ula". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
3. "قصة التأسيس".
4. "الراشد ومعاذ وخوجة.. أبرز وجوه العلا".
5. "نادي العلا | الاخبار" [Transfer of ownership of AlUla Club to the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate]. Al-Ula FC (Press release) (in Arabic). 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
6. Sim, Josh (6 June 2023). "PIF takes ownership of four Saudi Pro League clubs as Aramco, Neom, Driyah Gate and Royal Commission for Al-Ula also buy in". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
7. "Saudi Arabia privatises football clubs, eyes big-name signings". Al Jazeera. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
8. El-Itr, Obaida (15 September 2023). "Allan Sousa kickstarter enorm klubsatsning". Tipsbladet. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
9. El-Itr, Obaida (15 September 2023). "Afsløring: Så meget tjener Sousa i Saudi-Arabien". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
10. Bak, Daniel (19 September 2023). "Bekræftet: Sousa er på plads i Saudi-Arabien". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
11. "العلا يكتب التاريخ .. ويصعد إلى الثانية".
12. Al-Hubaishi, Saud (24 March 2024). "العلا بطل دوري الدرجة الثالثة" [Al-Ula is the champion of the third division league]. AlRiyadiyah (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
13. "تشكيلة العلا".

External links

• Official website (in Arabic)