Club history
Six decades of the “Leader of the South”: from an idea of Abha’s youth in 1947 to the Roshn Saudi League.
Club names
- Al Farouq 1966
- Al Wadeeah 1972
- Abha 1999
Milestones
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1947
Start
Abdullah Al-Muallimi proposed founding a sports club where Abha’s youth could play football; they played without an official club until 1960.
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1960
Founding meeting
Those present agreed to found a sports, educational and social club in Abha, but disagreed on its name between “Al Ahli” and “Asir Youth Union”, so two clubs were formed in the city.
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1966
Official registration
The club was officially registered as Al Farouq Sports Club, with Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Nuami as its first official president.
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1968
Al Siddiq
The city’s other club changed its name to Al Siddiq.
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1969
Merger
Al Farouq and Al Siddiq merged into one club named Al Farouq, chaired by Sheikh Suleiman bin Ahmed Mimesh.
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1972
Al Wadeeah
Renamed Al Wadeeah Club at the suggestion of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal on his appointment as Emir of Asir.
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1977
First promotion to the First Division
Al Wadeeah reached the First Division for the first time, returning in 1983 and 1994.
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1999
Abha Club
Renamed Abha Club; the team won the Third Division and was promoted to the Second.
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2000
Second Division champions
The team won the Second Division title and was promoted to the First Division.
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2005
First promotion to the top flight
Abha reached the top flight for the first time after finishing runners-up in the First Division, then won promotion again in 2008.
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2018
Back to the First Division
Abha were promoted to the First Division after beating Al Watani in the play-off.
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2019
Title and third promotion
Abha were promoted to the Pro League for the third time and won the First Division title for the first time.
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2020
Best season
The team achieved its best Pro League finish (ninth) and reached the King’s Cup semi-final for the first time.
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2024
Relegation
The team was relegated to the Yelo League after the 2023–2024 season.
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2026
Yelo League champions
Abha won the Yelo League with 77 points and returned to the Roshn League after two seasons away.
Club presidents through history
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1
General Yahya Al-Muallimi Unopposed
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2
Mohammed bin Abdullah Humaid Unopposed
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3
Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Nuami President of Al Ahli, then Al Farouq
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4
Ahmed Ibrahim Mataan Unopposed
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5
Suleiman bin Habtar Unopposed
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6
Aziz bin Aziz President of Al Ittihad, then Al Siddiq
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7
Dhafer Mohammed Al-Obaidi Unopposed
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8
Mohammed Rashid (Al-Abhawi) Unopposed
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9
Khaled Mohammed Sheikho Unopposed
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10
Suleiman Ahmed Mimesh President of Al Farouq
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11
Mohammed Saleh Al-Fawaz Unopposed
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12
Abdulrahman Abu Malhah 1400–1404 AH
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13
Eng. Hani Abu Ghazaleh 1405–1408 AH
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14
Saleh bin Hussein Qadah 1408–1411 AH
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15
Mustafa Aziz 1411–1413 AH
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16
Dr Hamad Al-Dosari 1413–1416 AH and 1422–1425 AH
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17
Abdulwahab Al Mujathil 1417–1422 AH, 1425–1426 AH and 1429 AH
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18
Mashafi Al-Maqrafi 1426 AH
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19
Dr Abdulrahman Fasil 1426–1428 AH
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20
Saad bin Hamid Al-Ahmari 1428–1429 AH, 1430–1434 AH and 1446 AH to date
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21
Dr Ahmed Al-Hudaithi 1434–1446 AH