Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait)

The club was founded as Al-Uruba in mid-1953 as one of the first Kuwaiti teams in Kuwait football.[6] 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 1960 after being officially affiliated to sports and football Al-Arabi SC was structured on playing football, basketball, volleyball and weightlifting.

At the start Al-Arabi SC made many achievements, thanks to their players and their loyal and submitted boards. Al-Arabi has many sports with separate facilities. Abdulaziz Al-Khatib multi-purpose hall is used for basketball, handball, volleyball and can accommodate about 2,000 spectators and also six squash courts, fully equipped. The swimming pool has a capacity of 1,500 spectators (currently creating an Olympic swimming pool, which is nearing completion), and in addition to the 4 tennis courts with the ground covered in tartan, and two handball courts, one covered with tartan. The gymnastics hall is fully equipped, and 4 other teams are judo, table tennis teams and boxing teams.

Through the years Al-Arabi SC has won many achievements and made Kuwait proud by domestic wins or international by winning the Kuwaiti Premier League/ VIVA Premier League 7 times. They have also won 3 Joint Leagues, 6 Emir Cup's and 1 Federation Cup as they were the first-ever Kuwaiti team to play outside Kuwait in football by competing in friendly matches against many teams through the Arabian Peninsula showing competitive playing from Kuwaiti clubs in friendly tournaments.

On 3 December 1974 Al-Arabi SC Faced Lazio from Italy and beat them 1–0 in a friendly match.[7]

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.[8] During that time they were called the best team in the GCC.

Al-Arabi SC had changed their logo in 1991 to a better-looking logo. From 1990-2005 they won 26 titles. Between them the GCC Champions League in 2003 and their last Kuwaiti Premier League/ VIVA Premier League Trophy in 2001–02, but through the years between 2005–10 they were rough years for Al-Arabi SC by going down the league table to 4th–6th, but competed in the AFC Cup. However, they only made it to the quarter-final of the cup. After that Al-Arabi SC never competed in an Asian tournament, but hopes for the team were raised by their fans for the upcoming future.

Through these times Al-Arabi SC had retained their confidence through football and trying their best to win titles. 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.

But eventually the club didn't win the league and was out of the race to win the league after the first 10 weeks in which Al-Arabi lost 6 games.

Al-Arabi had qualified in 2013 for the final match of the 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 global score (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 finals on aggregate (4-3). In the semi-finals, 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. Al Arabi were 0–2 down in the first half due to a mistake by the referee denying a goal for Al-Arabi and then giving USM Alger an offside goal in the 13th minute which after that they scored their second goal in the 37th minute. After the second half started Al-Arabi scored their first goal from a header from Kader Fall at the 58th minute which gave the team motivation to score the second goal from a long shot at the 61st minute from Hussain Al-Moussawi. After that the team was playing much better and at the 75th minute of the game the ref gave USM Alger a penalty kick for a weird reason for trying to keep the ball in his possession so the USM Alger player jumped on him and fell. The penalty was scored in the 76th minute which gave them the championship by a win of 3–2 on aggregate. It was a controversial game as many people felt that Al Arabi would have been winners if it wasn't due to bad referees.

In the 2013–14 season Al-Arabi SC qualified for the final match of the Kuwait Crown Cup for the third time in a row vs Al-Qadsia SC and lost 2–1 with one of the worst referred matches in Kuwait where the referee canceled a goal for the Greens where there was nothing wrong and it was a clean goal. He then gave Al-Qadsia a penalty in the 70th minute of the match and due to the bad referee Al-Arabi wanted to forfeit but continued for the Prince's honor and Al-Qadsia scored the penalty in the 75th minute. In the 83rd minute, Al-Qadsia scored the second goal leading 2–0 and at the 90th minute the referee gave 15 minutes of extra time due to the match stopping several times which Al-Arabi SC scored on the 93rd minute by Mahmoud Maowas. By the rest of the extra time Al-Arabi SC raised their offense and attacked to try and tie the game but couldn't by the referee who wouldn't let them score and giving many offsides and gave 2 red cards for Al-Arabi SC for no reason saying that the 2 players are exaggerating and offending me, but the referee pushed them and said leave which ended 2–1 which crowned Al-Qadsia Champions, but the Prince was not satisfied with the outcome of the match and left disappointed. In the same season Al-Arabi SC finished 5th in the league and got knocked out of the Kuwait Emir Cup[9] by Al-Qadsia 2–0 on penalties after tied 0–0 on aggregate but ended their season with winning the Kuwait Federation Cup[10] after the match ended 2–2 with Al-Salmiya SC went on penalties and won 4–2 which crowned them champions for the 6th time in the history of the Cup.

In the 2014–15 season Al-Arabi signed Firas Al-Khatib[11] Showing how strong they went to win the VIVA Premier League for the 17th time and showing the world that they still are Al-Zaeem of Kuwait and the GCC and want to win all the competitions they compete in. They also signed Ivusa from Sahel SC,[12] released Mushari Al-Kandri, because him wanting to continue his study in Jordan and would join the University's team or a nearby Football Team and after his return would re-join to Al-Arabi SC. Al-Arabi also put Mahmoud Al-Maowas on loan for a 1-season loan or a short loan deal[13] but eventually released Ivusa from his contract [14] and resigned from putting Mahmoud Al-Maowas on loan and bought the free agent Hashem Al-Ramzi . However, Bunjak told Khaled Khalaf he is not needed in Al-Arabi SC next season after only 2 days of training [15] but eventually saw the talent that is needed and was a minor mistake between them[16][17] on 22 July Al-Arabi SC left for a 2-week pre-season in Turkey[18][19] through that they took Ahmad Hawas[20] former Al-Salmiya SC player with them on a 2-week trial in Turkey and then decide if Boniyak wants to sign him. They have set seats to be sold and claimed for the hole season for a fee of $385 with a restaurant and snack bar for league matches held at the club.[21][22]

As the season started Al-Arabi won their first match in the league over Kazma 2–0 with the first appearance of Firas Al-Khatib and scoring the second goal.[23] As the 3rd week past Al-Arabi SC was at top of the league with 9 points ahead of Kuwait SC with 7 points those Al-Arabi SC has not been seen at the top of the league since 2010–11 for the first few weeks. As the first derby came along vs Al-Salmiya SC Al-Arabi SC lost 3–2 And fell to second place where Firas Al-Khatib scored his 100th league goal.[24]

On 16 October 2014 Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem first introduced vs Al-Yarmouk.[25] On 24 November 2014 Al-Arabi's journey to Kuwait Crown Prince Cup after beating Kazma in a Penalty shootout 5–4.[26] As the Kuwait City Derby came the match ended with a 0–0 Draw. While making it to the final of Kuwait Crown Prince Cup for the 4th consecutive year vs Kuwait SC and played the first Classico match of the season vs Qadsia SC which ended in a draw 0–0.[27]

After defeating Kuwait SC 4–2 (aet) in the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup final match this was Al-Arabi's 57th official title.[28] After the 2015 AFC Asian Cup ended sports in Kuwait came back after Al-Arabi defeated Kazma in the quarter-final of Kuwait Emir Cup[29] in the semi-final they faced Al-Salmiya SC. Al-Arabi lost the final 4–2 (aet) and was recognized as one of the worst referred matches in Kuwaiti Football history as Al-Arabi should have won the match.[30] As of 26 February 2015 Al-Arabi's fans were named best fans of 2014 from Al-khaleeji Sport.[31]

After losing twice this season to Al-Salmiya SC Al-Arabi beat them in week 18 3–1.

On 5 April 2015 they made it through to the semi-finals of the Kuwait Federation Cup.[32]

ِAl-Arabi lost the crucial Kuwait City Derby on 10 April 2015 vs Kuwait SC 1–0, reducing its points difference with Kuwait SC to only 2. The match had all the seats filled to the last seat, for the first time in the history of Kuwaiti football.[33] lost the semi-final to Khaitan SC 5–4 on penalties after 1–1 (AGG). With the final classico of the season came to a draw 0–0 they fell to 2nd place with 1 week left to win the league tied with Kuwait SC with 63 points. Ended as 2nd place in the league after defeating Al Tadamun SC (Kuwait) 7–0.

Bunjak has requested pre-season tour to Italy which was announced.[34] Signed with Karim Matmour on a two-year deal.[35] Signed Akram Djahnit on a Two-year deal.[36] Signed Tiago Queiroz Bezerra on a three-year deal,[37] and on 17 July 2015 the club officially stated that Boris Bunjak has left the club.

After being placed 2nd in the league it secured the club a place in international tournaments either the GCC Champions League, AFC Cup and UAFA Arab Champions League.

On 7 December it was announced that Luiz Felipe has left the club immediately after the defeat to Al-Salmiya SC in the Crown Prince Cup 1–2.[38] Boris Bunjak returned to manage the team right after.

After the loss of Emir Cup Final to Kuwait SC the club's went into war between fans and head office and the management team of the club, after that many known faces of the club promised that they would reconstruct the club back to its normal ways. After signing with Miodrag Ješić on 13 November 2016 the club became the first club in the middle east to have seven managers across two seasons.

As of 2012 the latest song was released, "Hello Za'eem".[40] It was made by the song group and producers of Miami, which was first used on TV as winners of the 2011–12 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup.

On 16 October 2014 Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem first introduced vs Al-Yarmouk.[41]

• 
  1960–80
• 
  1981–present

The Crest of Al-Arabi SC has changed only once through their entire lives as a football club. The first crest was used from 1960–80 due to the club changing from Al-Uruba to Al-Arabi SC in 1960. This lasted until 1980 where the design was drawn on paper then scanned to make it, but changed in 1991 to the present design using Photoshop and other graphic designing applications.

It is said that the current design is set to change, due to it not having an English name on it, to a new design with the founded date of 1953 or 1960 on it.[42][43]

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.

The Kuwaiti classico is between Al-Arabi SC and Al-Qadsia which is named one of the big games in the GCC from sport section which Al-Qadsia want to break the record of the number of championships Al-Arabi SC have of 57 and qadsia have 52 so they can name themselves Al-Zaeem but they underestimate Al-Arabi SC a lot, due to Al-Qadsia getting domestic championships in the twentieth century it has been better than Al-Arabi SC and has more wins in the Classico.[44]

The Kuwait City derby is between Al-Arabi SC and Kuwait SC due to have a great impact from Kuwait SC since dominating in the AFC Cup by winning the title 3 times and make the derby a great match. Throughout the years Al-Arabi have dominated the Kuwaiti football throughout its championships, but in the 2009 Kuwait Emir Cup final after beating Al-Arabi 2–1 and defeating them in 2010–11 league 5–1 those made the Kuwait City Derby a derby to watch through the Kuwaiti football.

Matches between Al-Salmiya SC and Al-Arabi SC are often high-profile.

As of the 2014–15 season, Al-Salmiya SC had many new signings to the team and won their first encounter in the league.

it is said that Sabah Al-Salem Stadium would be renewed into a larger, better venue instead of stadium because they will remove the running tracks and build a larger stadium up to 35,000–45,000 seats with a VIP Seats for famous people and many other place. Also the other side would be re=built to make it bigger with more seats and places e.g. shops, restaurants, toilets and praying rooms.

May take a larger area from the Clubs location into a larger space wear homes would be bought or plain areas would be replaced and Build Al-khatib's new hall and demolish the current one to expand the stadium.

1971: Al-Arabi SC 3–0 Perak

3/11/1974: Al-Arabi SC 1–0 Lazio[51]

2/8/2014: Al-Arabi SC 2–0 Bursaspor U-21[52]

5/8/2014: Al-Arabi SC 2–1 Bursa Nilüferspor

1977–78: Al-Arabi SC 1–1 Poland

2005–06: Al-Arabi SC 2–0 Syria

2007–08: Al-Arabi SC 1–1 Ivory Coast

2013–14: Al-Arabi SC 1–0 Kyrgyzstan [53]

As of 2021

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  KUW Ali Jarrakh 3 DF  SYR Ahmad Al Saleh 4 DF  KUW Ahmad Ibrahim 5 DF  KUW Juma Obud 6 DF  KUW Ahmad Raheel 7 MF  KUW Bader Al-Fadhel 8 MF  GHA Issah Yakubu (on loan from Ahed) 9 FW  PLE Oday Dabbagh 10 MF  KUW Bander Al Salamah — FW  SYR Alaa Al Dali 12 MF  KUW Abdullah Hassan 13 DF  KUW Mohammad Frieh 15 MF  LBY Al Senosi al Hadi 16 MF  KUW Mohammed Znevr 17 MF  KUW Ali Khalaf

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 GK  KUW Sulaiman Abdulghafour 23 GK  KUW Haider Sattar 24 MF  KUW Abdullah Al Shemali 27 DF  KUW Essa Waleed 28 DF  KUW Mohammed Saffar 32 MF  KUW Abdulaziz Al Salimi 33 DF  KUW Abdullah Ammar 36 MF  KUW hussain Al Harbi 39 MF  KUW Salman Al Awadhi 43 DF  KUW Hussein Ashkanani 44 DF  KUW Hassan Hamadan 45 FW  KUW Meshari Al Kandari — DF  KUW Mohammed Al-Hadad — MF  KUW Ahmad Al-Nasr — MF  KUW Mahdi Hussain

KPL/VPL clubs are limited to 5 foreign professionals (4 + 1 Asian) per squad while signing 2 non-nationality Kuwaitis where 5 play on the pitch and 6 Kuwaitis play on the pitch.

List of Al-Arabi former Players

• 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

• First Kuwaiti team to win the league without a loss or draw:

1961–62

• First Kuwaiti team to win the league without a loss:

1962–63

• longest unbeaten run in the league:

33 matches straight

• Record league victory:

10–0 v Al-Fahaheel 9/10 1964

• Record biggest league loss:

1–5 v Kuwait SC 3/2 2011

• Most goals:

1. Abdulrahman Al-Dawla – ?

2. Firas Al-Khatib – 186

3. Khaled Khalaf – 66

4. Ahmad Hayel – 55

5. Fahad Al-Rashidi – 51

Most appearances:

Abdulrahman Al-Dawla

• VIVA Premier League:[62] 16

1961–62*, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1996–97, 2001–02

(* First ever winners)

• (Runner-up): 12

1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1989–90, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2014–15

• Kuwaiti Division One: 1

1999–00

• Kuwait Joint League: 5 (record) (defunct)

1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1984–85, 1988–89

• Kuwait Emir Cup: 16

1961–62*, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2019–20

(* First ever winners)

• (Runner-up): 13

1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2017–18

• Kuwait Crown Prince Cup: 7

1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2014–15

• (Runner-up): 5

2002–03, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2019–20

• Kuwait Super Cup: 2

2008*, 2012

(* First ever winners)

• Kuwait Federation cup: 6 (record)

1969–70 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2013–14

• (Runner-up): 2

2009–10, 2012–13

• Al Kurafi Cup: 3 (record) (defunct)

1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02

• (Runner-up): 2

2003–04, 2005–06

• GCC Champions League: 2

1982*, 2003

(* First ever winners)

• (Runner-up): 3

1983, 1985, 1994

• Arab Champions League/ UAFA Cup/ Arab Club Championship: 0
• (Runner-up): 1

2012–13

Not counted with the other 57 Official Championships

• Kuwait unofficial league: 1

1956–57

• (Runner-up): 2

1954–55, 1955–56

• Shot Cup: 1

1978–79

• Binjab FC Cup: 1

1970–71

• Perak friendly Cup: 1

1970–71

• Qasion Cup: 1

1966–67

• Farul Romania Friendly: 1

1968–69

• Eintracht e.V Cup special: 1

1981–82

Khaleeji sport KUW:

Best fans of the year(1): 2014

Kems Awards:

Fans of the season(1): 2014–15

• GCC Champions League: 7[63]
• 1982: Champions
• 1998: Round of 16
• 2003: Champions
• 2007: Group Stage
• 2011: Semi-final
• 2012: Semi-final
• 2015–16: Tournament Postponed
• Arab Champions League /UAFA Cup: 3
• 2007–08: Round of 16
• 2008–09: Quarter-Final/ withdrew [64]
• 2012–13: Runner-up

• AFC Champions League: 6
• 1994: 1st round
• 1998: 1st round
• 2003: 4th round
• 2004: Group stage
• 2006: Group stage
• 2007: Group stage
• AFC Cup: 1
• 2008–09: Quarter-final

• Bani Yas International Tournament: 1
• 2013–14: 3rd place

• Asian Club Championship

• AFC Champions League

• AFC Cup

• Kuwaiti futsal league: 0

• (Runner-up): 1

2012–13

• Kuwaiti Futsal Federation Cup: 1

2012–13

• (Runner-up): 2

2014-15, 2015-16

• Kuwaiti Futsal Super Cup: 0
• (Runner-up): 1

2013–14

• Kuwait Beach Football league:1

2019

(Runners-up):3

2011-12, 2015-16, 2018

• Kuwait Beach Football Cup:2

2012-13, 2018

(Runners-up):1

2011-12

• Kuwait Beach Football Super Cup:3

2017, 2018, 2019

• (Runners-up):1

2013

• Premier League: 4

2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2013–14

• Division One League: 1

2015–16

• Kuwait Cup: 8

2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2013–14

[65]

In the 2013–14 season Al-Arabi Volleyball club won both the League [66] and Cup[67] and was said that they have come back to win championships and be a competitive team in the Kuwaiti volleyball league after a season of 2 losses in the whole season and only conceding 6 runs through the hole year.

After 5 of the first team squad suspended for 1 year due to problems woth the KVF and the council they finished 6th (relegation) in the league and 4th in the Gulf Championship and runner-up to Kuwait SC in the Kuwait Cup with most of the team are underaged.

On 12 January 2016 the club won the Division One title and bounced back to the Premier League.[68]

• Kuwait Beach Volleyball league:1

2014-15

(Runners-up):1

2011-12

• Kuwait Beach Volleyball Cup:1

2012-13

(Runners-up):1

2011-12

• Kuwait Beach Volleyball Super Cup:0

• (Runners-up):1

2012

[69]

Al-Arabi Handball team has won my championships and competed in many others by winning the league 10 times the last time in 2011–12 and 10 federation cups and 1 defunct Khurafi cup and has started competing in international tournaments and championships since 2015–14.

[70]

Started in 2015

• Kuwait paintball Cup: 1

2015