Unprecedented demand for tickets as champions Al-Ittihad host Al-Ahli in Jeddah derby

JEDDAH: Tickets for the first Jeddah derby of the 2023-24 Rosh Saudi League season between arch-rivals Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli have attracted unprecedented demand since going on sale on Wednesday night.

Supporters of both clubs in Jeddah, widely acknowledged as some of the most passionate and influential in Saudi Arabia, were scrambling to secure their seats for what promises to be a titanic showdown between the two clubs on Friday night at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

A record crowd of 65,000 is expected to attend the match, with 70 percent of stadium capacity going to the home team Al-Ittihad.

Al-Ahli fan Hamid Al-Othman told Arab News that he waited for three hours online to buy a ticket and eventually succeeded in getting one for SR100 ($26).

” I know it is expensive but I am lucky to get one ticket,” he said.

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad supporter Hamza Hawsawi said that, despite the demand, he managed to get his tickets along with his two brothers because of the greater share assigned to the home fans.

“Yes, we have the big share in tickets and that’s why it was easy for us as Ittihad fans to get tickets,” he said.

Al-Ittihad confirmed that regular tickets had sold out through the club’s official website. The pricing tiers cater to fans of various preferences, with VIP tickets still available on Thursday from SR1,500–3,000 ($400-800).

The derby, scheduled to kick off at 9pm Saudi time, is the first match to be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, also known as “Al-Jawhara,” since its renovation ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 set to be played from Dec. 12-22.

The highly anticipated Jeddah derby is the standout match of the ninth round of the Roshn Saudi League as it brings the two rivals together