Who are Al Hilal Owners? A Detailed Look Into Al Hilal Ownership History & Current Leadership

Al Hilal shot to fame in 2023 when Brazilian Superstar Neymar Jr joined the club on a record deal. The big-money transfer, however, led Al Hilal to gain global recognition, as the club, based in Riyadh, had already been known for its dominance in the Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal is one of the few teams that have never been relegated from the top division of Saudi football. Since signing Neymar, Al Hilal have managed to land some other European stars, including the likes of Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Joao Cancelo.

While ruling the Saudi Pro League with their consistent performance, Al Hilal have also proven their worth in continental tournaments. Al Hilal owners have maintained the standard of the squad by bringing in globally recognized players, along with homegrown talent. These big-money moves have aided in bolstering the reputation of Al Hilal, who have, with time, elevated its overall value and currently has a brand strength score of 79.6, compounded with an AA+ rating, according to Brand Finance.

Who Are Al Hilal Owners?

As the question arises, who is the owner of Al Hilal Football Club, it is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The PFA, regulated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has a 75% stake in Al Hilal. Similar to Al Hilal owners, some other clubs competing in the Saudi Pro League have the same shareholder structure.

Other Sports Teams Owned by PIF

The PIF of Saudi Arabia owns four big-name clubs in Saudi Arabia. In addition to Al Hilal, clubs like Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Nassr are already under the control of the Public Investment Fund. The Al Hilal owners have also invested in Premier League club Newcastle United, a move that certainly raised eyebrows. The Saudi Arabian government has been putting much effort into popularizing the Pro League across other parts of the world, besides investing in global tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup.

PIF Primary Business

Al Hilal owners, PIF, generate revenues through various means. The wealth fund of Saudi Arabia is mainly backed by the country's oil business. The PIF has also prioritized the tourism and tech sectors in recent times. Investing in football clubs and other sports has been crucial for Saudi Arabia to gain global recognition. The PIF also boosts its wealth from other government organizations, debt repayment, and loans.

Al Hilal Owners Net Worth

According to the report of 2024, the PIF or Al Hilal owners net worth was in sixth position in a ranking of the global wealth funds. The PIF's overall asset currently amounts to nearly 925 billion US dollars. Thanks to the PIF and other Al Hilal owners, the club has already breached the €242-million mark in terms of market value.

Al Hilal Owners History: From Past to Present

Apart from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Al Hilal owners list includes some non-profit organizations. Al Hilal, however, has always been under sovereign rule, like most of the clubs in Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal came into existence in 1957. The club saw enough turbulence initially due to some internal problems at the youth setup. After King Saud chose the name Al Hilal, a new dawn appeared. Now with the PIF serving as the Al Hilal football club owner, a bright future looks sure. The PIF has been the main owner of Al Hilal FC since 1971.

Al Hilal Owners Controversy

As the owners of Al Hilal Football Club, the PIF has drawn controversy for its approach to signing Europe-based players. The Saudi government has been accused of “sportswashing" - a term which means spending huge funds on sports to polish the image of the country as a whole. Even questions were raised regarding Al Hilal's participation in AFC competitions, as the Saudi Pro League club allegedly breached rules by featiring in the tournaments under shared ownership.