Al Gharafa were formed in 1979, after local residents decided to create a sports club to serve the youth population in the area. Al Ittihad Club was established in June that year.
The side’s name was changed to Al Gharafa in 2004 to represent the local area. Nicknamed The Cheetahs, they have had much success down the years, the highlights of which being the three consecutive Qatar League titles between 2008 and 2010.
Al Gharafa, who won the Arab Clubs Championship in 1999, had H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Fahad bin Mohammed Al Thani as the first chairman of their Board of Directors.