Riyadh: Al-Hilal have long been one of the most successful clubs in Saudi football, representing the Kingdom on the continental stage with a record number of AFC Champions League Elite titles.
But as Saudi football enters a new phase of global ambition, clubs such as Al-Hilal are now expected to lead the nation on a global stage.
And the Riyadh giants are doing so with distinction on and off the pitch, as revenue of $340m (SR1.27bn) was announced for the 2024-2025 season, the highest yet by a Saudi sports organisation.
Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal, described the current phase as a new qualitative stage in the club’s journey.
“Al-Hilal Club Company continued moving steadily toward a future in which sporting leadership integrates with institutional excellence, which is built on the club’s iconic legacy, the unlimited support from the Saudi government and a national vision that competes with the world across all fields,” he said in his CEO message in the club’s 2024-2025 annual report.
Al-Hilal’s stated ambition is to establish itself as a top global sports club, recognised for its leadership, identity and entertaining playing style.
That ambition was clear during the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, where the Blues impressed the world against Real Madrid in an opening game draw before defeating Manchester City 4-3 in a dramatic Round of 16 encounter.
That exposure has led to a notable increase in the club’s commercial performance. Sponsorship and partnership revenues increased by 16.5 percent over the season, with total sponsor return on exposure exceeding $1.15bn.
The result was that total revenues surpassed $340m. If Al-Hilal were classified as a European club, that figure would place them in the top 20 of the Deloitte European Football Money League, ahead of several established European names.
Beyond the financials, Al-Hilal also delivered key qualitative milestones. The club moved to a new headquarters, finalised an agreement with Princess Nourah University to develop first-team training facilities, and continued renovations of its youth infrastructure.
Al-Hilal’s women’s team also progressed significantly, with the introduction of a fully equipped dedicated training hall, upgraded wellness facilities, and further development of gym and recovery areas.
Taken together, Al-Hilal’s growth across the 2024-2025 season is a pivotal moment in the evolution of Saudi football. While marquee signings and on-pitch success remain central, the reality is that football’s key performance indicators have shifted over the past decade.
With Deloitte’s Money League now a core benchmark in the modern game, clubs are increasingly judged on their ability to convert sporting success into sustainable business models that support long-term growth.
Al-Hilal hit the 42.5-million follower mark on social media over the season and welcomed nearly 400,000 fans at the Kingdom Arena, a 79 percent increase after by the stadium's expansion to a capacity of 23,500.
These indicators suggest that Al-Hilal are building a global sporting brand defined not by individual star signings, but by institutional scale and identity.
Looking at their company values and culture, “winning” ranks only second to the “Al-Hilal first” mentality. It is that mentality that has carried the club from its roots in Riyadh’s Al-Uraija district to national dominance and, increasingly, global relevance.
As attention turns to whether Al-Hilal can return to glory in the Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League Elite in the 2025-2026 season, the message from the board is clear: trophies matter, but it is values and long-term vision that ultimately define success.
