Al Hilal are the most decorated club in Saudi Arabian football and the most successful side in the history of the AFC Champions League. This guide covers the basics for anyone following the club from the UK: who they are, what they have won, where they play and what the name means.
Al Hilal in brief
The club is based in Riyadh. The name is Arabic for “the crescent moon”. The club was founded on 16 October 1957, according to Wikipedia’s club entry, which also lists the nicknames Al-Za’eem (“The Boss”) and the Blue Waves. Their home is Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, and the men’s team plays in the Saudi Pro League.
What Al Hilal have won
The club’s own honours page lists the following, as shown on 2 October 2026:
- Saudi league: 21 titles, a record, the latest listed in 2024.
- King’s Cup: 10 wins, with the latest listed in 2026.
- Crown Prince Cup: 13 wins, a record.
- AFC Champions League: four Al Hilal titles, in 1991, 2000, 2019 and 2021.
- Asian Cup Winners’ Cup: two titles, the last edition of that competition being in 2002.
The four Asian titles are the most for any club, a record also recorded by Guinness World Records. The club’s page counts the 2000 final under that year, while some lists, such as Olympics.com, write it as the 1999-2000 season.
The world stage
As Asian champions, Al Hilal have played in the FIFA Club World Cup more than once. In February 2023 they reached the final of the 2022 edition and lost 5-3 to Real Madrid, which Wikipedia notes made them the first Asian club from outside the host nation to reach a Club World Cup final.
How to follow Al Hilal from the UK
The squad changes each transfer window and fixtures move between competitions, so check the club’s website and the Saudi Pro League for the current list. We cover news, match previews and reports in the Al Hilal News section, and run a fan poll with most articles.
Which trophy means the most to you?
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Al Hilal hold a record four AFC Champions League titles. Which Al Hilal trophy do you rate highest, and why?