Qatar Airways official club sponsor of Saudi’s Al Ahli

Al Ahli Football Club chairman Prince Fahd bin Khaled bin Abdullah and Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar al-Baker at a press conference announcing the partnership.

By Sports Reporter/Doha

At a press conference yesterday morning, and in the presence of Al Ahli Football Club chairman Prince Fahd bin Khaled bin Abdullah and the club’s honorary member Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar al-Baker officially announced the partnership and the reasons behind the collaboration.

“Al Ahli Football Club is renowned for its pioneering role in the promotion of the sport in Saudi Arabia. Our partnership with Qatar Airways will support us in our continued journey to be the best in the Kingdom, and beyond,” Prince Fahd said.

Prince Faisal added: “Since 1937, the club has not only launched the careers of many notable footballers, but has also brought people closer together to enjoy this beautiful game.”

Al-Baker said, “Since its inception 77 years ago, the Al Ahli Football Club has represented a key pillar in the community in Saudi Arabia. Like Qatar, Saudi Arabia has a long heritage of sporting excellence, and we are pleased to be supporting our neighbours as they use sport to strengthen their communities with the positive foundation that sport provides.

“Qatar Airways has long developed strong ties with Saudi Arabia, operating flights to seven key destinations across the Kingdom, not to mention the exciting advent in the New Year of the launch of our brand new Saudi Arabia-based airline, Al Maha Airways.”

Qatar Airways currently operates 86 flights per week to seven destinations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, namely, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Gassmin, Ta’if and Al Hofuf.

Al Maha Airways is set to begin operating in the Saudi Arabian market in the New Year and will initially use a fleet of A320-200 aircraft for operations between Jeddah and Riyadh, before expansion to further domestic routes across the Kingdom.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 137 aircraft to 144 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.