Al-Arabi SC

Foundation (1952–1972)

The club was founded in 1952 under the name "Shabab Al-Sharq" which was changed to "Al-Tahrir" in 1956. The next year, the club merged with Al-Wehda, a club founded in the same year, under the name of Al-Wehda. Al-Wehda did not play outside of Qatar nor host any foreign clubs due to its limited budget.

In 1972, the club rebranded under the name, Al-Arabi.

Al-Arabi had one of the largest fan bases in Qatar, as well as in other Gulf states. The club's popularity outside the Middle East was bolstered by their achievements and national team players. In 2003, the club signed Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta.

Emergence (1972–1980s)

The club established itself as one of the leading teams in Qatari football during the 1970s. Arabi finished as runners-up in the 1975–76 Emir Cup and went on to win the Emir Cup three consecutive times. The club defeated Al-Wakrah in the 1977–78 and 1978–79 finals, before overcoming Al-Khor in the 1979–80 final.

The club continued its rise throughout the 1980s, emerging as one of Qatar's dominant football clubs. The squad featured several players who were a part of the Qatar national football team as well, including Ali Zaid, Ibrahim Khalfan, and Man'a Al-Barshi. During the decade, the club won the Qatari League title twice, in 1982–83 and 1984–85. Al-Arabi also once again lifted the Emir Cup in 1982–83 and 1983–84, and later claimed back-to-back titles in 1988–89 and 1989–90. In addition, the club won the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 1980 and again in 1982.

Golden era (1990s)

The 1990s was a successful period for Al-Arabi SC. During this decade, Al-Arabi assembled a squad featuring foreign players Marquinho Carioca and Richard Owebuker.

The club dominated the Qatari League throughout the 1990s, winning the title five times, in 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, and 1996–97. During this time, the team also achieved a runners-up position at the AFC Champions League in 1995, losing to Thai Farmers Bank FC in the final. They also won the 1992–93 Emir Cup, The Sheikh Jassim Cup in 1994, and the 1997 Qatar Crown Prince Cup, defeating Al-Rayyan on penalties.

Decline (2000–2010s)

The early 2000s marked a period of decline for Al-Arabi SC, as the club experienced a significant drop in performance following the departure of key players, and increased competition from domestic rivals. In the 2001–02 season, Al-Arabi finished seventh, their lowest league position since joining the Qatar Stars League.

The signing of Gabriel Batistuta in 2003 briefly raised expectations, as the club finished higher than in the two previous seasons. However, Al-Arabi continued to struggle and ended the 2006–07 season in ninth place, setting a new low in the club's league history. The team failed to secure any domestic titles during this period and achieved limited success in international competitions. That season also included the club's heaviest-ever defeat, a 7–0 loss to Al-Sadd, which led to the dismissal of head coach Cabralzinho.

In 2006, following widespread criticism of club president Sheikh Falah bin Jassim, an administrative change took place, and Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak was elected as the new president.

Crisis (2011–present)

The beginning of the 2011–12 season initially looked bright for Al-Arabi, with the club winning its first domestic silverware in 13 years after defeating Umm Salal SC in the final of the 2011 Sheikh Jassem Cup. However, a string of bad results in the league resulted in the sacking of their coach, Paulo Silas.

They also qualified for the 2012 AFC Champions League, in which they were the first team to be eliminated. During this period, the club had appointed three coaches in a span of three months. They became the first team since 2007 to lose every match of the group stage, as well as the first Qatari team to witness such failure.

As a result, the club's director of football, Mubarak Mustafa, announced his departure from the club. Furthermore, club president Abdullah al-Mal announced his retirement from sports. He was replaced by Hitme bin Ali Al-Hitmi. The fiscal budget of the club was reduced from 15 million riyals to 9 million riyals.