Fixtures

Qatar Stars League 08/15 15:30 1 Al-Wakrah SC vs Al-Arabi Doha - View
Qatar Stars League 08/22 15:30 2 Al Gharafa vs Al-Arabi Doha - View
Qatar Stars League 08/29 15:30 3 Al-Arabi Doha vs Umm Salal - View

Results

Qatar Emir Cup 05/07 17:15 4 Al Shamal SC v Al-Arabi Doha L 3-1
Qatar Stars League 04/18 15:30 22 Umm Salal v Al-Arabi Doha L 2-0
Qatar Stars League 04/11 15:30 21 [2] Al Duhail v Al-Arabi Doha [9] L 1-0
Qatar Stars League 04/04 16:15 20 [8] Al-Arabi Doha v Al Gharafa [3] L 1-3
Qatar Stars League 03/29 18:00 19 [10] Qatar SC Doha v Al-Arabi Doha [8] D 0-0
Qatar Stars League 03/08 18:30 18 [10] Al-Arabi Doha v Al Shamal SC [6] W 1-0
Qatar Stars League 02/27 16:00 17 [7] Al-Rayyan SC v Al-Arabi Doha [9] L 2-1
Qatar Stars League 02/23 13:45 16 [10] Al-Arabi Doha v Al-Ahli Doha [4] W 4-2
Gulf Club Champions League 02/18 17:00 - Al-Arabi Doha v Al-Riffa D 1-1
Qatar Stars League 02/08 15:45 15 [12] Al-Khor SC v Al-Arabi Doha [11] W 3-4
Gulf Club Champions League 02/05 15:15 - Al Qadsia SC v Al-Arabi Doha L 3-0
Qatar Stars League 01/30 15:45 14 [10] Al-Arabi Doha v Al-Sadd SC [4] L 1-3

Stats

 TotalHomeAway
Matches played 40 20 20
Wins 12 11 1
Draws 7 3 4
Losses 21 6 15
Goals for 46 30 16
Goals against 80 28 52
Clean sheets 9 6 3
Failed to score 15 3 12

Wikipedia - Al-Arabi SC (Qatar)

Al-Arabi Sports Club (Arabic: النادي العربي الرياضي) is a Qatari sports club based in the capital city Doha. Founded in 1952, the most prominent team of the club is the football team that competes in the Qatar Stars League. The club's home ground is the 44,400-seat Al Thumama Stadium, where they have played since 2023.

Al-Arabi had their first major success in 1978, winning the Emir of Qatar Cup, followed by various titles during the 1980s and 1990s. The club enjoyed their greatest period of success in those two decades, winning 17 major trophies. Domestically, Al-Arabi have won seven league titles, eight Emir of Qatar Cups, one Qatar Crown Prince Cup and six Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cups. Whilst they have also recently won the Qatar X UAE Super cup April 2023. This is their first International success. They have faced Sharjah FC and won.

Al-Arabi's regular kit colours are red shirts and shorts with red socks. The club's crest has been changed several times in attempts to re-brand the club and modernise its image. The current crest, featuring a ceremonial falcon, is a modification of the one introduced in the early 1950s. They are known as having the largest fan base in Qatar. The AFC conducted a survey on their official website to determine the most prominent fan base in Qatar, revealing that Al-Arabi secured the top position with 41% of the votes, closely followed by Al-Rayyan in second place. In terms of championships won, they are the second most successful club domestically after Al-Sadd. Al-Arabi is known by various nicknames including "Dream Team", "The Red Devils", and "Century Club".

History

Foundation (1952–1990)

The club was founded in 1952 under the name "Al-Tahrir", making them the second oldest team in Qatar. In 1957, the club merged with Al-Wehda, a club founded in the same year under the leadership of Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari, after playing a friendly. They merged under the name of Al-Wehda. Al-Wehda did not play outside of Qatar nor host any foreign clubs due to its limited budget. In 1972, the club rebranded under their current name, Al-Arabi. The first president of the club was Ahmed Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari.

Al-Arabi was known for having one of the largest fan bases in all of Qatar, as well as in other Gulf states, and was well-known overseas. Their popularity outside the Middle East was bolstered by their achievements and national team players, until 2003 when it reached its peak with the signing of Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta.

It placed 14th in the International Federation of Football History & Statistics's 1901–2000 Asian Club of the Century poll.

Founders

Golden era (1990–2000)

The 1990s marked the start of a long streak of success for Al-Arabi. The dream team had come to fruition with the likes of Marco Antônio and Richard Owebukeri, who were the top scorers in the league at one point. Perhaps the most significant player was Mubarak Mustafa, who is considered one of the best Qatari footballers in history. The team, impressing many with its versatile squad, took the Qatari league by storm, winning it 5 times out of 10. Not satisfied merely with local success, the team achieved runners-up position in the AFC Champions League in 1995.

They won their first Heir Apparent cup in 1997.

Decline (2000–2011)

The new century saw a significant slump in Al-Arabi's performance. Factors which impacted this may include the departure of Mubarak Mustafa and the increase of competitiveness from local clubs. In the 2002 season, Al-Arabi finished in 7th place, the lowest position since its debut in the Qatar Stars League.

The arrival of Gabriel Batistuta in 2003 saw a glimpse of hope for Al-Arabi as they finished significantly higher in the league than the 2 previous seasons, however they ended up finishing 9th in the league at the end of the 2007 season, a new low. They did not win a single domestic title during this period, and had limited success in international competitions. Furthermore, they suffered their largest-ever defeat against Al-Sadd that season when they were beaten 7–0, which resulted in the sacking of their coach Cabralzinho.

In 2006, due to popular dissent accosting the club president Sheikh Falah bin Jassim, there was an administrative change which resulted in Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak being elected as president.

Management crisis (2011–present)

Al Arabi headquarters in 2015

The beginning of the 2011–12 season looked bright for Al-Arabi, with the club winning its first domestic silverware in 13 years after defeating Umm Salal SC in the final of the 2011 Sheikh Jassem Cup. However, a string of bad results in the league resulted in the sacking of their coach, Paulo Silas.

They also qualified for the 2012 AFC Champions League, wherein they were the first team to be eliminated. During this period, the club had appointed 3 coaches in a span of 3 months. They infamously made history by being the first team since 2007 to lose every match of the group stage, as well as the first Qatari team to witness such failure. As a result, the club's director of football, Mubarak Mustafa, announced his departure from the club. Furthermore, Dr. Abdullah al-Mal, president of the club, announced his retirement from sports. He was replaced by Hitme bin Ali Al-Hitmi. The fiscal budget of the club was reduced from 15 million riyals to 9 million riyals. They have just also lost the qualification for the AFC entry for the 23/24 season which has been a major setback

Al-Arabi SC, based in Doha, Qatar, is one of the country's most storied and successful football clubs. Founded in 1952, the team has a rich history and a passionate fan base, making it a prominent fixture in Qatari football. Known for their distinctive red and white colors, Al-Arabi has consistently competed at the highest levels of the Qatar Stars League, showcasing a blend of local talent and international players.

The club's home matches are held at the iconic Al Arabi Sports Club Stadium, which provides an electric atmosphere for fans. Al-Arabi has a strong tradition of success, having won multiple league titles and domestic cups, and they are recognized for their commitment to developing young talent through their youth academy.

Al-Arabi's rivalry with other Qatari clubs, particularly Al-Sadd and Al-Rayyan, adds to the excitement of the local football scene, with matches often drawing large crowds and intense competition. The team's style of play is characterized by skillful attacking football, making them a favorite among fans.

With a focus on excellence both on and off the pitch, Al-Arabi SC continues to strive for success in domestic and regional competitions, aiming to solidify its legacy as one of the giants of Qatari football.