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Al-Ula

Full name	Al-Ula Women's Football Club
Nickname(s)	Arabian Tigress
Founded	2022; 2 years ago (2022)
Ground	Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Medina
Capacity	24,000
Owner	Royal Commission for Al-Ula
Chairman	Amr Al-Madani
Head coach	Ray Farrugia
League	Saudi Women's First Division League
2022–23	SWFDL, Final: 1st of 26
Home colours Away colours

Al-Ula Women's Football Club (Arabic: فريق العلا للسيدات) is a Saudi professional women's football club based in Al-Ula, Medina province. It plays in the Saudi Women's Premier League, the top tier women's football league in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ula successfully secured promotion to the premier league in their inaugural season.

History

Founded in 2023, Al-Ula's women's team began its journey in May, holding trials after appointing Jordanian coach Alaa Abu Qasheh to lead. Starting training sessions in mid-July, they aim to shape a team that meets high expectations for their debut in the Women's First Division League in November. Prior to launching their league campaign, the club secured the signatures of five foreign players, including two European internationals, Bosnian Selma Kapetanović and Croatian Fatjesa Gegollaj, marking the league's first-ever signings of active European internationals. The club made history by winning their inaugural match 14–0 against Ohd, a game that concluded before full time due to a shortage of players on the opposing team.

Following an impressive performance in the group stage, where they won seven matches and drew one, maintaining an unbeaten record, Al-Ula secured qualification for the final stages. Al-Ula outperformed Al-Bayraq with a 5–0 victory and drew 1–1 against Abha, securing their spot in the league's semi-finals. On March 10, 2024, Al-Ula secured promotion to the Saudi Women's Premier League by defeating Al-Amal 3–0 in the semi-final match.

Al-Ula emerged as champions of the First Division, clinching victory in the final by defeating Al-Taraji on penalties, thus becoming the second team ever to claim the title.

Players

Current squad

As of 27 September 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF  BRA Tuani Lemos 4 DF  KSA Dana Filemban 5 DF  KSA Dena Bakar 6 MF  KSA Wojood Al-Harthi 7 MF  BIH Selma Kapetanović 8 FW  BRA Jaine Lemke 9 FW  KSA Shaima Mahmoud 11 FW  KSA Hebah Bukhari 12 FW  KSA Ghaliah bin Laden

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 MF  YEM Hadeel Jehran 19 MF  KSA Mariam Al-Tamimi 20 MF  KSA Nadiyah Al-Dhidan 21 MF  CRO Fatjesa Gegollaj 22 DF  KSA Lama Abdullah 25 GK  EGY Tasnim Ahmed 26 MF  BIH Melisa Hasanbegović 86 GK  FRA Sarah Bouhaddi 91 DF  KSA Raghad Helmi

Coaching and management staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Ray Farrugia
Assistant coach	Brian Bartolo
	Wilco van Buuren [nl]
	Nada Abdullah
Goalkeeping coach	Miguel Ângelo Menezes
Fitness coach	Bethany Testro
Video analyst	Sergiu Bolboaca
Head of Physiotherapy Unit	Rodrigo Martín Baeza
Physiotherapy Specialist	Marwa El Adrosy

Last updated: November 7, 2024
Source: Al-Ula

Records and statistics

Competition record

Al-Ula's performance over their completed seasons:

Season	Div.	pos.	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Season Top Scorer	Saudi Women's Cup pos.
2023–24	1. D	1st	12	9	3	0	73	3	Selma Kapetanović	N/A

Honours

• Saudi Women's First Division League:
  • Champions (1): 2023–24

References

1. "فريق السيدات ينطلق في يوليو" [The women's team kicks off in July.]. alulaclub.sa (in Arabic). Al-Ula FC. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
2. ""سيدات العلا"... ترقب لظهور أول في دوري "الأولى" السعودي" [Ladies of Al-Ula... Anticipation for their debut in the Saudi Women's First Division League]. aawsat.com (in Arabic). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
3. "أبوقشة: العلا جاهز للمنافس في دوري السيدات السعودي" [Abu Qusha: Al-Ula is ready to compete in the Saudi Women's League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
4. "العلا السعودي يتعاقد مع البوسنية سلمى كابيتانوفيتش" [Al-Ula Saudi signs with the Bosnian Selma Kapetanović.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
5. "في أولى مبارياته.. نادي العلا النسائي لكرة القدم يفوز بـ 14هدف" [In its first match, Al-Ula Women's Football team wins with 14 goals.]. hiamag.com (in Arabic). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
6. "دوري الدرجة الأولى للسيدات السعودي يدخل مرحلة الحسم" [The Saudi Women's First Division League enters the decisive stage]. gate.ahram.org.eg (in Arabic). 29 February 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
7. "التقدم والترجي والعلا والأمل في نصف نهائي "أولى السيدات"" [Al-Taqadam, Al-Taraji, Al-Ula, and Al-Amal in the semi-finals of the Women's First Division League.]. aawsat.com (in Arabic). 7 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
8. "العلا يبلغ الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات" [Al-Ula Reaches the Saudi Women's Premier League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
9. "العلا يصنع حقبة جديدة في كرة القدم النسائية بالسعودية" [Al-Ula is creating a new era in women's football in Saudi Arabia.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
10. "AlUla beat Al-Taraji to be crowned champions of SAFF Women's First Division League". arabnews.com. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
11. "Al Nassr v Al Ula match Report". int.soccerway.com. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.

External links

• Al-Ula on Player Maker Stats

• Women's football clubs in Saudi Arabia
• Association football clubs established in 2023
• Saudi Women's Premier League clubs
• Saudi Women's First Division League clubs