Al Ahly’s Big Reboot: El-Khatib Unveils Admin Reshuffle and a Historic Budget Leap

Overview

Mahmoud El-Khatib, the president of Al Ahly and a candidate for the same post in the upcoming elections on October 31, stated that what has been achieved at the Red Castle over the past years is the result of collective effort and the devotion of club members across roles.

Speaking at a press conference held at the club’s Fifth Settlement branch, he emphasized that Al Ahly would remain rich with loyal supporters capable of continuing a long tradition of contribution and success.

Vision for Administration and Finance

El-Khatib added that he makes a point of being inside the club daily for long hours despite fatigue, and that the schedule may require reorganizing the administrative system by distributing tasks and assignments among list members to ensure efficiency and rapid execution.

He argued that Al Ahly is a large entity with millions of fans and a heavy responsibility toward its supporters and society, which calls for professional management and diverse resources to fulfill the ambitions of the Al Ahly family.

He stressed that the club no longer relies solely on subscriptions and sponsorships as main income sources; instead it operates under a comprehensive investment vision aimed at financial sustainability and increased returns through its various companies, which form the club’s strong economic arm.

El-Khatib noted that the establishment of the Al Ahly for Sports Services came as a response to the expansion of activities, trips, and camps domestically and abroad, which used to burden the treasury and went to external entities; he believes the company has succeeded in managing these affairs internally and delivering solid financial results that positively reflect on the club’s budget.

He also spoke about the performance of Al Ahly Football Company in the past four years, confirming that it has actively contributed to increasing revenues by effectively exploiting commercial and marketing rights for players, alongside developing the marketing and financing framework to support deals and ensure the first team’s stability.

Turning to Al Ahly’s Sports Facilities Company, he said it achieved notable success through two successive councils, with key figures contributing across both terms. The engineering mindset within the club evolved, and the company laid the groundwork for the construction of the club’s stadium as one of the major future projects.

El-Khatib added that the club’s budget has witnessed a historic leap during his two terms, thanks to a progressive investment approach and a broadening of financial resources through innovative tools, in addition to leveraging the value and legacy of the Al Ahly name since 1907.

He noted that the club received a budget of about 800 million pounds in 2017, rose to 2.5 billion pounds by the end of his first term, and continued to grow to 8.5 billion pounds currently. He pointed out that Al Ahly managed to settle all installments for land for its new branches, which are now fully owned by the club, with no outstanding financial obligations to any party.

Addressing the current board, he said: achieving these record figures does not mean stopping there. It should motivate further work and innovation, as the next phase requires doubling efforts to match the scale of expansion in branches and services and increasing monthly operating expenditure. The motto remains: invest for the future to ensure sustainable resources that serve Al Ahly’s generations.

El-Khatib also highlighted that the club was among the first sporting institutions in Egypt to implement a minimum wage, acknowledging workers as essential partners in every achievement. Any past football shortcomings are addressed swiftly to ensure the continuity of success and development, especially in football, which remains a top priority for the club and its fans.

He extended gratitude to everyone who contributed to this journey—from players and coaching and administrative staff to workers and planning committees—saying that everyone played their part with dedication within a system moving toward a single vision to preserve Al Ahly’s leadership locally and continentally. Special respect was extended to parents of athletes with disabilities for their support and dedication in all sports and social activities.

Looking ahead, he spoke about plans for the period ahead, noting the club’s special attention to these champions with unique talents. A short film was produced to document their successes and activities at the club, and he wished them further success and achievements.

El-Khatib also praised the sports activities sector for notable successes, highlighting the significant efforts made by Rohab Abdul Qader during his tenure and appreciating Khaled Al-Awadi for continuing with the same energy and efficiency, urging him to keep developing the sector and maintain Al Ahly’s leadership across various sports.

Punchlines aside, the message is clear: the club aims to turn governance into a well-oiled machine and its coffers into a growing reservoir. And if the budget keeps expanding, perhaps they’ll fund a bigger trophy cabinet. If efficiency were a sport, Al Ahly just signed a world-record contract. May the spreadsheets be ever in your favor.