Al Ahli lifted the first SAFF Women's Cup with a 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in a hard-fought final played in front of 2,000 fans at the Kingdom Arena. 16 clubs took part in the SAFF Women's Cup, divided into two groups based on their position in the previous season. Group One comprised the eight Premier League clubs, while Group Two was made up of the top eight teams from the First Division.

The tournament was played on a knockout basis from the round of 16. The tournament was played in Riyadh at the prestigious Kingdom Arena. The tournament was organised by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). Al Ahli were crowned champions by Deputy Sports Minister Bader Alkadi. 

Lamia Bahian, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, expressed her gratitude and said: "We are extremely grateful for the enthusiastic participation and support that was shown during the SAFF Women's Cup. The final showcased the exceptional talent and perseverance of the players. It also highlighted the remarkable growth of women's football in the Kingdom."

"We commend all the participating clubs for their remarkable achievements and commitment to the sport. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for the continued development of women's football. We look forward to witnessing their continued success and progress," added Lamia Bahian.

The SAFF Women's Cup Awards Ceremony was held after the final to honour the tournament's outstanding players. Ibtisam Jraidi was the tournament's top scorer with 14 goals, while Al Ahli's Alice Kusi was named best player and Al Qadisiyah's Lindsay Harris was voted best goalkeeper.

Qatar was the first country in the Middle East to host a World Cup. It did so in 2022, when it hosted the men's tournament, won by Messi's Argentina, but when last October Saudi Arabia announced its bid to host the men's World Cup in 2034 last October, the country's commitment to football and many other sports was clear.

The country is also considering the possibility of hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035, according to sources close to the Saudi Football Association. 

Saudi Arabia is going through a period where sport is being seen as an investment tool and you only have to look at what is happening with sports like golf, boxing or football, firstly in the men's game where many of the top players are being attracted by salaries and conditions that are second to none, and in recent years also in the women's game.

 In the women's game, the standards are high for players who want to play in the top league. The women's league started in 2021. Now, years later, the first Women's Cup has been played.