Al-Arabi Sporting Club () is a multi-sport club based in Mansuriya district of Kuwait City. The most notable section is its professional football team in the Kuwait Premier League.
Al-Arabi SC was named Al-ʿUrūba () at the beginning of 1953, and changed to Al-Arabi SC (The Arabian) in 1960. As winners of the Kuwait Emir Cup in 2008, Al-Arabi SC was the first Kuwaiti team to compete in the AFC Cup. Al-Arabi SC has 64 official trophies next to its name (62 domestic and 2 GCC), the most of any Kuwaiti football team. Al-Arabi SC's stadium is Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Mansūriya, a suburb of the capital of the country, Kuwait City. It is the second-largest stadium in Kuwait. It had the same points as Kuwait SC in 2014–15 season, but the title went to Kuwait by the principle of the results of the matches between the two teams.
Al-Arabi SC is the only team in Kuwait that has never lost in the Kuwait Super Cup. Holding both records for appearances in the final of the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup 4 consecutive times tied with Kuwait SC and in Kuwait Emir Cup going to the final 11 consecutive times since 1962 to 1973, more than any Kuwaiti team.
History
The beginning The club was founded as Al-Uruba in mid-1953 as one of the first Kuwaiti teams. Some of the most notable players were Abdulwahab Al-Awadie, Abdulaziz Al-Khatieb, Musad Al-Musad, Mohammed Al-Dawlee, Abdulmajied Mohammed, Mohammed Al-Somale, Dasman Bakhiet, Ahmad Bodha, Monaier Al-Dagag, Fuad Al-Ashgar, Ahmad Hussain, Abbas Al-Shemaly, Mossa Al-Somale, Nayef Dalool and Mohhamed Salah Al-Roomy.
At first in 1960s Al-Arabi SC was structured with divisions of football, basketball, volleyball and weightlifting.
At the beginning Al-Arabi SC made many achievements, thanks to their players and submitted board members. Al-Arabi has many sports with separate facilities. Abdulaziz Al-Khatib multi-purpose hall is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, squash, and can accommodate about 2,000 spectators. The swimming pool has a capacity of 1,500 spectators. Club also has 4 tennis courts, gymnastics hall, judo, table tennis and boxing sections.
1960–1980 (starting of Il-Za'īm) Through the years Al-Arabi SC has won the Kuwait Premier League 7 times. They have also won 3 Joint Leagues, 6 Emir Cups and 1 Federation Cup.
They were the first-ever Kuwaiti team to play outside Kuwait, by competing in friendly matches against teams through the Arabian Peninsula, showing competitive play. On 3 December 1974 Al-Arabi SC faced Lazio from Italy and beat them 1–0 in a friendly match.
1980–2009 In 1982 Al-Arabi SC was the first-ever team to win Gulf Club Champions Cup (GCC Champions League), and then won it again in 2003.
Al-Arabi SC had changed their logo in 1991. From 1990 to 2005 they have won 26 titles. Their then-last league title came in 2001–02, with occasional AFC Cup appearances.
2010–2012 Through these 2 seasons they won 2 titles: the Kuwait Super Cup and Kuwait Crown Prince Cup. On 27 December 2011, they were crowned champions of the Crown Prince Cup after 3 trophy-less seasons.
2012–13 UAFA Cup Al-Arabi had qualified for the final match of UAFA CUP. They were faced against Al-Fateh SC of Saudi Arabia. In the first leg they won 3–2 in Kuwait City, and in the away leg played in Saudi Arabia they tied 2-2, but they qualified to the next round on aggregate (5–4). In the quarter finals, they were matched up against Al-Nassr, again of Saudi Arabia. They lost 3–2 in the first leg played away in Saudi Arabia, however they won 2–0 at home, thus qualifying to the semi-final on aggregate (4–3). In the semi-final, they were matched up against Raja Casablanca. They tied at home 1-1 and in the away leg 2-2. However, they moved on to the final because of the away goals rule.
In the final, they played against USM Alger from Algeria. They tied 0–0 in Kuwait and lost they away leg 3–2, with several controversial refereeing decisions.
2013–14 In the 2013–14 season, Al-Arabi SC qualified for the Kuwait Crown Cup final third time in a row, losing to Al-Qadsia SC (2–1), with more controversial refereeing decisions. In the same season Al-Arabi SC finished 5th in the league and got knocked out of the Kuwait Emir Cup by Al-Qadsia penalties, but ended their season winning Kuwait Federation Cup 4–2 over Al-Salmiya SC.
2014–2015 In the 2014–15 season Al-Arabi signed Firas Al-Khatib, showing how strong they want to win Kuwaiti Premier League. They also signed Ivusa from Sahel SC, sent Mahmoud Al-Maowas on loan, and eventually released Ivusa, resigning Maowas and buying Hashem Al-Ramzi. However, Boris Bunjak told Khaled Khalaf he is not needed in Al-Arabi SC. When Al-Arabi SC left for a 2-week pre-season in Turkey, they took Ahmad Hawas, former Al-Salmiya player.
They have claimed seasonal seats to be sold the first time, for a fee of $385. On 16 October 2014, Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem.
After defeating Kuwait SC 4–2 (aet) in the Crown Prince Cup final, it was Al-Arabi's 57th official title. ِ Al-Arabi lost the crucial Kuwait City Derby on 10 April 2015 vs Kuwait SC 1–0. The match had all the seats filled to the last, for the first time in the history of Kuwaiti football.
Manager Bunjak has requested preparation tour to Italy which was announced, but on 17 July 2015 it was officially stated that he has left the club.
Return to old ways On 7 December 2015 it was announced that Luiz Felipe has left the club immediately after defeat to Al-Salmiya SC in the Crown Prince Cup. Boris Bunjak returned to manage the team right after.
After the loss of Emir Cup Final to Kuwait SC, the club went into war between fans and head office. After signing with Miodrag Ješić on 13 November 2016, they became the first club in the middle east to have seven managers across two seasons.
By 2021, Al-Arabi managed to win the seventeenth league title in its history, with the help of its Croatian coach Ante Miše after nineteen years, without any loss in 18 games.
In popular culture One of the first songs was in 2004, "Panorama Al-Arabi", dedicated to the fans and goal celebrations. As of 2012, the next song was released, "Hello Za'eem". It was used for the 2011–12 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup. On 16 October 2014, Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem, introduced in match against Al-Yarmouk.
Crest and colors
Crest evolution
Colors
Al-Arabi SC have changed their colors over the years. Since 1960–90 their colors were light green and white as the away kit.
From 2000–present, they changed to a darker green and the away color was still white.
By 2012 it was announced that Al-Arabi SC will be wearing dark green as their home kit, the away kit will be blue, and the third kit will be white with green.
In the 2013–14 season, Al-Arabi SC wore only the home kit and third kit.
In 2019–present, Al-Arabi SC changed the logo colors from yellow to gold, and for the word 'club' in Arabic they made it white.
Kits
Home
GreenWhite 2021–2022
Away
Classicos and derbies The Kuwaiti Classico
Kuwait City Derby The Kuwait City derby is match between Al-Arabi SC and Kuwait SC.
Al-Arabi SC vs Al-Salmiya SC Matches between Al-Salmiya SC and Al-Arabi SC are often high-profile. In 2014, Al-Salmiya won their first encounter in the league.
Current squad
Staff Board of directors PositionNamePresident Abdulaziz AshourCEO Osama HussainFootball chairman Ali Mandani
Managerial history
NameNat.FromToRef.Todor Velev19741976Dave Mackay19781978Frank Upton19811982Dave Mackay19871987Bobby Ferguson19871989Colin Addison19921993Bobby Campbell19931994Mohammed Karam19941995Jawad Maqseed19961996Fawzi Ibrahim19961997Ján Pivarník19981999Dragan Gugleta19992000Ján PivarníkJune 2000September 2001Valdeir VieiraSeptember 20012003Sebastião LazaroniJune 2003June 2004Mohammed KaramJune 20042004Mohsen SalehAugust 2004November 2005Valdeir VieiraNovember 2005April 2006Ahmed KhalafApril 2006June 2006Nenad StavrićJuly 2006February 2007José RachãoFebruary 2007May 2008Ahmed KhalafMay 2008May 2009Zoran PopovićMay 2009June 2009Dragan SkočićJuly 2009May 2010Marcelo CaboMay 2010March 2011Zoran BebićMarch 2011April 2011Fawzi IbrahimApril 2011June 2011José RomãoJune 2011May 2014Boris BunjakJuly 2014July 2015Luís FilipeJuly 2015December 2015Ahmed Askar (interim)December 2015December 2015Boris BunjakDecember 2015May 2016Fawzi IbrahimMay 2016October 2016Ahmed Askar (interim)October 2016November 2016Miodrag JešićNovember 2016March 2017Mohammed EbrahimJune 2017May 2018Hussam Al SayedJune 2018May 2019Juan MartínezJune 2019September 2019Darko NestorovićOctober 2019June 2020Bassem MarmarJuly 2020October 2020Ahmed OthmanOctober 2020December 2020Ante MišeDecember 2020June 2022Jugoslav TrenchovskiJuly 2022September 2022Rusmir CvikoSeptember 2022May 2023Thomas BrdarićJune 2023November 2023Darko NestorovićNovember 2023April 2024Nasser Al-ShattiApril 2024July 2025Marco AlvesJuly 2025November 2025
Al Arabi in Asia SeasonCompetitionRoundCountryClubHomeAway1971Asian Club ChampionshipGroup stagePerak FA3–0Taj Club0–0ROK Army0–11991–921st RoundAl-Hilal1–10–21993–94Al Shabab1–72–51997–98 Al-Ansar0–11–22003AFC Champions League3rd roundAl-Ittihad4–01–14th roundNisa Aşgabat––2004Group stageAl-Ittihad0–00–2Sepahan2–21–3FK Neftchi3–22–12006Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya0–10–3Al-Sadd1–21–4Al Shabab3–00–22007Al-Zawra'a0–12–3Al-Wahda3–21–4Al-Rayyan1–13–12009AFC CupAl-Oruba2–01–1Arbil2–01–1Al-Mabarrah4–21–2Round of 16Safa2–1 (aet)Quarter-finalsAl-Karamah0–0 (aet)(4–5 pen.)0–02022AFC CupGroup stageAl-Riffa3–2Shabab Al-Khalil SC1–0Dhofar1–1Quarter-finalAl-Seeb Club1–2 (aet)2023–24AFC CupGroup stageAl-Zawraa SC1–12–1Al-Riffa SC0–31–2Nejmeh SC0–02–12024–25AFC Challenge LeagueGroup stageFC Abdysh-Ata Kant0–1Maziya S&RC2–0FK Arkadag3–2Quarter-finalAl-Seeb Club1–02–2 (aet)Semi-finalFK Arkadag2–00–32025–26 Preliminary RoundMaziya S&RC4–0Group StageSafa SC2-2Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda2-1FC Muras United1–12026–27AFC Champions League TwoPreliminary RoundEast Bengal FC1–4 (aet)AFC Challenge LeagueGroup B Istiklol Nejmeh Homs Al Fidaa
Al Arabi in UAFA Season Competition Round Club Home Away1982*GCC Champions LeagueFinalRiffa S.C.2–01983*FinalEttifaq FC2nd place1985*FinalAl-Hilal FC2nd place1989*1st roundAl-Muharraq SC1–22nd roundFanja SC1–13rd roundAl-Wasl F.C.2–14th roundAl-Hilal FC4–21994*FinalAl Shabab FC (Riyadh)2nd place2003*1st roundAl-Muharraq SC2–12nd roundAl-Oruba SC0–03rd roundQatar SC0–04th roundAl-Hilal FC1–02007Group-StageAl-Muharraq SC2–2Group stageAl-Nasr S.C.S.C.0–1Group stageAl-Sharjah SCC1–12009–10Group stageAl Shabab (Dubai)2–01–1Group stageAl-Muharraq SC1–05–12011Group stageAl-Ahli Club (Manama)WithdrewGroup stageAl-Ahli Dubai F.C.1–20–1Quarter-finalAl-Arabi SC (Qatar)2–0Semi-finalAl Shabab (Dubai)2–20–22012Group-StageAl-Wahda F.C.2–15–1Group stageAl Kharaitiyat SC3–01–2Quarter-finalRiffa S.C.2–1Semi-finalAl-Muharraq SC2–10–22013UAFA Cup1st RoundAl-Fateh SC3–22–2Quarter-finalAl Nassr FC2–32–0Semi-finalRaja Casablanca1–12–2FinalUSM Alger0–02–3
Notes: *Round-robin tournament
Club presidents The founding committee from 1953 to 1960 involved Mohalhel Mohammed Al-Mudhaf and Khalid Ahmed Al-Mudhaf. YearsPresident1960–61 Mohalhel Mohammed Al-Mudhaf1961–67 Khalid Ahmed Al-Mudhaf1967–68 Moussa Rashid Al-Fahad1969–70 Mohammed Saleh Al-Mulla1970–78 Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah1978–81 Ahmed Sayed Abdelsamad1981–83 Sheikh Nayef Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah1983–89 Ahmed Sayed Abdelsamad1989–92 Sheikh Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah1992–93 Fahd Abdulaziz Al-Humaiadhan1993–94 Mohammed Saleh Al-Mulla1994–97 Ahmed Sayed Abdelsamad1997–00 Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Shehab2000–10 Jamal Shaker Al-Kazemi2010 Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah2010–19 Jamal Shaker Al-Kazemi2019– Abdulaziz Ashour
Records Team records First Kuwaiti team to win the league 3 times in a row: 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64 First Kuwaiti team to win the league 4 times in a row: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85