Al-Shabab FC

Al-Shabab FC — "The Youth" — were founded in 1947 as Shabab Al-Riyadh, making them the first football club established in the Saudi capital. Renamed Al-Shabab in 1967, the club have won six Saudi Pro League titles, including a memorable 2011-12 championship, and remain a perennial contender in one of the most competitive leagues in Asian football.

The club's white-and-black identity is iconic in Saudi football. Al-Shabab have produced some of the kingdom's finest players and have consistently punched above their weight against the better-funded Riyadh rivals Al Hilal and Al Nassr. Their 2003-04 and 2005-06 league titles proved they could break the established order, while the 2011-12 crown came during a period when Al Hilal's dominance briefly wavered.

In the modern era, Al-Shabab have navigated the Saudi Pro League's transformation with pragmatism. While they were not among the four clubs acquired by PIF in 2023, the club has invested smartly in international talent and coaching. For the 2025-26 season, Noureddine Zekri leads the technical staff, tasked with returning the club to the upper echelons of the table.

Al-Shabab's SHG Arena provides a compact, atmospheric home in the heart of Riyadh, and the club's devoted fanbase ensures that every home match is a test for visiting sides.