Organising body | Pro League Committee |
---|---|
Founded | 1973; 51 years ago (1973) |
Country | United Arab Emirates |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 14 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | First Division League |
Domestic cup(s) | UAE President's Cup UAE Super Cup |
League cup(s) | UAE League Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two |
Current champions | Al Wasl FC (8th title) (2023β24) |
Most championships | Al Ain (14 titles) |
TV partners | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports Sharjah Sports Fanseat |
Website | uaeproleague |
Current: 2023β24 season |
The UAE Pro League (Arabic: Ψ―ΩΨ±Ω Ψ§ΩΩ ΨΨͺΨ±ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ₯Ω Ψ§Ψ±Ψ§ΨͺΩ), known for sponsorship reasons as the: ADNOC Pro League, is: theββtop professional football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first teamββto win the title was Al Orouba (Sharjah), whilst Al Ain has the record with 14 league titlesββto their name. Fourteen clubs compete in the League that operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the First Division League.
The League was founded in 1973 as the UAE Football League. The first 1973β74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by, the UAE FA in 2001. In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed. And became the "organising body of the League."
Name changeβ»
Starting from the 2006β07 season the name was changed from UAE League to Etisalat League. And since the 2013β14 season, the name was changed from Etisalat Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf as per the chairman of Pro League Committee. However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of bigotry, and the Iranian Football Federation barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club. After about four months of the name change a 70 million AED one-year renewable partnership deal was announced with Arabian Gulf Development to be, "named Official Title Partner." On 8 August, the Pro League signed a new partnership deal with ADNOC worth 80 million AED, from the start of the 2021β22 season, the league was renamed to the UAE's ADNOC Pro League.
Rankingβ»
As of 26 May 2024
Ranking | Member association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) |
Club points | Total | 2025β26 Competition | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023β24 | 2022 |
Mvmt | Region | 2015 (Γ0.3) |
2016 (Γ0.4) |
2017 (Γ0.5) |
2018 (Γ0.6) |
2019 (Γ0.7) |
2021 (Γ0.8) |
2022 (Γ0.9) |
2023β24 (Γ1.0) |
ACL Elite | ACL Two | Challenge | ||
1 | 1 | β | W 1 | Saudi Arabia (L, C) | 15.250 | 9.500 | 18.600 | 10.000 | 26.350 | 20.950 | 19.075 | 27.100 | 103.148 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
2 | 2 | β | E 1 | Japan (L, C, LC) | 15.250 | 10.500 | 21.850 | 13.850 | 21.800 | 17.875 | 20.088 | 21.350 | 96.999 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
3 | 3 | β | E 2 | South Korea (L, C) | 16.750 | 20.750 | 9.950 | 18.350 | 13.600 | 22.750 | 15.800 | 22.350 | 93.600 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
4 | 6 | +2 | W 2 | United Arab Emirates (L, C) | 25.000 | 18.000 | 11.350 | 8.100 | 7.633 | 14.400 | 8.083 | 24.000 | 73.373 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
Clubsβ»
Member clubs (2023β24)β»
- Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Club | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Ajman | Ajman | Ajman Stadium | 5,537 |
Al Ain | Al-Ain | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium | 22,965 |
Al Bataeh | Al Bataeh | Al Bataeh Stadium | 2,000 |
Al Jazira | Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) | Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium | 42,056 |
Al Nasr | Dubai (Oud Metha) | Al-Maktoum Stadium | 15,058 |
Al Wahda | Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) | Al Nahyan Stadium | 12,201 |
Al Wasl | Dubai (Zabeel) | Zabeel Stadium | 8,439 |
Baniyas | Abu Dhabi (Al Shamkha) | Baniyas Stadium | 10,000 |
Emirates | Ras Al Khaimah | Emirates Club Stadium | 5,200 |
Hatta | Hatta | Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium | 5,000 |
Kalba | Kalba | Ittihad Kalba Stadium | 8,500 |
Khor Fakkan | Khor Fakkan | Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium | 7,500 |
Shabab Al Ahli | Dubai (Deira) | Rashid Stadium | 12,052 |
Sharjah | Sharjah | Sharjah Stadium | 20,000 |
Prior to UAE League's transition to the professional era in 2008, many clubs have competed in the country's top tier division from 1973β74 to 2007β08. The below list is clubs that have competed in the UAE top-tier league since the Pro League era starting in 2008β09.
Seasons in Pro Leagueβ»
- 15 seasons: Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Al Wahda, Al Wasl
- 14 seasons: Sharjah
- 13 seasons: Al Dhafra, Baniyas
- 12 seasons: Ajman
- 10 seasons: Emirates
- 9 seasons: Al Ahli, Al Shabab, Kalba
- 6 seasons: Dibba Al Fujairah, Shabab Al Ahli
- 5 seasons: Khor Fakkan
- 4 seasons: Al Shaab, Dubai, Fujairah, Hatta
- 2 seasons: Al Bataeh
- 1 season: Al Urooba
Notes:
- Italtics indicates that the club no longer exists
- Bold indicates that the club is still competing in the UAE Pro League as of 2023β24
Managersβ»
Nat. | Name | Club | Appointed | Time in charge |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cosmin OlΔroiu | Sharjah | 10 November 2021 | 894 days | |
Marko NikoliΔ | Shabab Al-Ahli | 2 June 2023 | 325 days | |
MiloΕ‘ MilojeviΔ | Al Wasl | |||
Darko MilaniΔ | Baniyas | 8 June 2023 | 319 day | |
Fabio Viviani | Hatta | 5 September 2023 | 230 days | |
Daniel IsΔilΔ | Ajman | 3 October 2023 | 202 days | |
NebojΕ‘a JovoviΔ | Khor Fakkan | 28 October 2023 | 177 days | |
HernΓ‘n Crespo | Al Ain | 14 November 2023 | 160 days | |
Alfred Schreuder | Al Nasr | 27 November 2023 | 147 days | |
Goran TufegdΕΎiΔ | Al Wahda | 3 January 2024 | 110 days | |
Mirel RΔdoi | Al Jazira | 5 January 2024 | 108 days | |
Walter Zenga | Emirates | |||
Goran TomiΔ | Al Bataeh | 7 January 2024 | 106 days | |
Ghazi Fahad | Ittihad Kalba | 2 March 2024 | 51 days |
List of championsβ»
Source:
Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due to Gulf War
2.^ Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Championsβ»
Performance by clubβ»
As of 2023 following clubs are officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the League, "Each country's usage is unique." And in UAE the practice is to award one star for each five titles won. The number in parentheses is for League titles won.
Club | Won | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Al Ain | 14
|
9
|
1976β77, 1980β81, 1983β84, 1992β93, 1997β98, 1999β00, 2001β02, 2002β03, 2003β04, 2011β12, 2012β13, 2014β15, 2017β18, 2021β22 |
Shabab Al Ahli | 8
|
4
|
1974β75, 1975β76, 1979β80, 2005β06, 2008β09, 2013β14, 2015β16, 2022β23 |
Al Wasl | 7
|
8
|
1981β82, 1982β83, 1984β85, 1987β88, 1991β92, 1996β97, 2006β07 |
Sharjah | 6
|
7
|
1973β74, 1986β87, 1988β89, 1993β94, 1995β96, 2018β19 |
Al Wahda | 4
|
5
|
1998β99, 2000β01, 2004β05, 2009β10 |
Al Jazira | 3
|
5
|
2010β11, 2016β17, 2020β21 |
Al Nasr | 4
|
1977β78, 1978β79, 1985β86 | |
Al Shabab | 3
|
1
|
1989β90, 1994β95, 2007β08 |
Al Shaab | 0
|
2
|
β |
Baniyas | 0
|
2
|
β |
Notes
1.^ Al Shabab along with Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017
2.^ Al Shaab dissolved in 2017
Performance by cityβ»
City / Area | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Dubai | 21
|
Al Ahli | (8): 1974β75, 1975β76, 1979β80, 2005β06, 2008β09, 2013β14, 2015β16, 2022β23 |
Al Wasl | (7): 1981β82, 1982β83, 1984β85, 1987β88, 1991β92, 1996β97, 2006β07 | ||
Al Nasr | (3): 1977β78, 1978β79, 1985β86 | ||
Al Shabab | (3): 1989β90, 1994β95, 2007β08 | ||
Al Ain | 14
|
Al Ain | (14): 1976β77, 1980β81, 1983β84, 1992β93, 1997β98, 1999β00, 2001β02, 2002β03, 2003β04, 2011β12, 2012β13, 2014β15, 2017β18, 2021β22 |
Abu Dhabi | 7
|
Al Wahda | (4): 1998β99, 2000β01, 2004β05, 2009β10 |
Al Jazira | (3): 2010β11, 2016β17, 2020β21 | ||
Sharjah | 6
|
Sharjah | (6): 1973β74, 1986β87, 1988β89, 1993β94, 1995β96, 2018β19 |
Performance by emiratesβ»
Emirates | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Abu Dhabi | 21
|
Al Ain | (14): 1976β77, 1980β81, 1983β84, 1992β93, 1997β98, 1999β00, 2001β02, 2002β03, 2003β04, 2011β12, 2012β13, 2014β15, 2017β18, 2021β22 |
Al Wahda | (4): 1998β99, 2000β01, 2004β05, 2009β10 | ||
Al Jazira | (3): 2010β11, 2016β17, 2020β21 | ||
Dubai | Al Ahli | (8): 1974β75, 1975β76, 1979β80, 2005β06, 2008β09, 2013β14, 2015β16, 2022β23 | |
Al Wasl | (7): 1981β82, 1982β83, 1984β85, 1987β88, 1991β92, 1996β97, 2006β07 | ||
Al Nasr | (3): 1977β78, 1978β79, 1985β86 | ||
Al Shabab | (3): 1989β90, 1994β95, 2007β08 | ||
Sharjah | 6
|
Sharjah | (6): 1973β74, 1986β87, 1988β89, 1993β94, 1995β96, 2018β19 |
Playersβ»
All-time top scorersβ»
Source:
Rank | Nat | Name | Club | Years | Goals | Apps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira | 2009β | 218 | 298 | |
2 | SebastiΓ‘n TagliabΓΊe | Al Wahda Al Nasr Sharjah |
2013β | 184 | 239 | |
3 | Fahad Khamees | Al Wasl | 1980β1997 | 175 | β | |
4 | FΓ‘bio Lima | Al Wasl | 2014β | 164 | 215 | |
5 | Adnan Al Talyani | Al Shaab | 1980β1999 | 133 | β | |
6 | Mohammad Omar | Al Wasl Al Ain Al Jazira Al Dhafra Al Nasr Ajman |
1992β2011 | 132 | β | |
7 | Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 1980β2003 | 127 | β | |
8 | Ahmed Abdullah | Al Ain | 1978β1995 | 122 | β | |
9 | Atiq Hassan | Al Ahli | 1988β2002 | 119 | β | |
10 | Faisal Khalil | Al Ahli Al Wasl Al Shaab |
1999β2013 | 114 | 302 | |
11 | Makhete Diop | Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah |
2011β2018, 2021β2023 | 108 | 180 | |
12 | Asamoah Gyan | Al-Ain Al Ahli |
2011β2017 | 101 | 97 | |
13 | Ismail Matar | Al Wahda | 2001β | 101 | 418 | |
14 | Anderson Barbosa | Sharjah Al Wasl |
2003β2009 | 99 | 128 | |
15 | Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba | Al-Ain | 2019β | 98 | 107 | |
16 | Ahmed Khalil | Al Ain Shabab Al Ahli Al Bataeh |
2007β | 94 | 263 | |
17 | Ali Thani | Sharjah | β | 93 | β |
Top scorers by seasonβ»
Season | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1974β75 | Suhail Salim | Al Ahli | 14 |
1975β76 | Ali Nawaz Baloch | Al Wahda | 13 |
1976β77 | Alfadel Santo | Al Nasr | 11 |
1977β78 | Mohieddine Habita | Al Ain | 20 |
1978β79 | Mostafa Mahrous | Al Ahli | 16 |
1979β80 | Alo Ali Mohamed | Emirates | 14 |
1980β81 | Karim Abdul Razak | ||
1981β82 | Ahmed Abdullah | Al Ain | 13 |
1982β83 | Luiz Carlos | Al Nasr | 12 |
1983β84 | Ahmed Abdullah Fahad Khamees |
Al Ain Al Wasl |
20 |
1984β85 | Fahad Khamees Adnan Al Talyani |
Al Wasl Al Shaab |
14 |
1985β86 | Mohammed Salem | Al Wahda | 16 |
1986β87 | Adnan Al Talyani Khalil Ghanim |
Al Shaab Khor Fakkan |
13 |
1987β88 | Zuhair Bakheet | Al Wasl | 24 |
1988β89 | Fahad Khamees | 13 | |
1989β90 | Hussain Yaslam | Baniyas | 16 |
1990β91 | Cancelled | ||
1991β92 | Youssouf Atiq | Al Ahli | 25 |
1992β93 | Saif Sultan | Al Ain | 21 |
1993β94 | Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 18 |
1994β95 | Bader Jassim | Al Wahda | 10 |
1995β96 | Jassim Al Dokhi | Al Shaab | |
1996β97 | Bader Jassim | Al Wahda | 11 |
1997β98 | Ali Thani | Sharjah | 19 |
1998β99 | Alboury Lah | Al Wahda | 29 |
1999β00 | 18 | ||
2000β01 | Mohammed Al Enazi | 22 | |
2001β02 | |||
2002β03 | CristiΓ‘n Montecinos | Dubai | 19 |
2003β04 | Ali Karimi | Al Ahli | 14 |
2004β05 | Valdir Anderson Barbosa |
Al Nasr Sharjah |
23 |
2005β06 | Anderson Barbosa | Sharjah | 20 |
2006β07 | Anderson Barbosa Ali Samereh |
Al Wasl Al Shaab |
18 |
2007β08 | Faisal Khalil Anderson Barbosa |
Al Ahli Sharjah |
16 |
2008β09 | Fernando Baiano | Al Jazira | 24 |
2009β10 | JosΓ© Sand | Al Ain | |
2010β11 | AndrΓ© Senghor | Baniyas | 18 |
2011β12 | Asamoah Gyan | Al Ain | 22 |
2012β13 | 31 | ||
2013β14 | 29 | ||
2014β15 | Mirko VuΔiniΔ | Al Jazira | 25 |
2015β16 | SebastiΓ‘n TagliabΓΊe | Al Wahda | |
2016β17 | Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira | 33 |
2017β18 | Marcus Berg | Al Ain | 25 |
2018β19 | SebastiΓ‘n TagliabΓΊe | Al Wahda | 27 |
2019β20 | Kodjo Laba | Al Ain | 19 |
2020β21 | Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira | 25 |
2021β22 | Kodjo Laba | Al Ain | 26 |
2022β23 | 28 | ||
2023-24 | Omar Khribin | Al Wahda | 18 |
Top scorers by countryβ»
Country | Players | Seasons |
---|---|---|
United Arab Emirates | 17 | 22 |
Brazil | 4 | 6 |
Ghana | 2 | 4 |
Argentina | 3 | |
Senegal | ||
Iran | 1 | |
Togo | 1 | 3 |
Pakistan | 1 | |
Sudan | ||
Tunisia | ||
Chile | ||
Montenegro | ||
Sweden | ||
Syria |
Referencesβ»
- ^ "ADNOC and UAE Pro League announce title partnership". WAM. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "1973/74 UAE Football League". Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi". Pro League Committee. 26 May 2013.
- ^ James M. Dorsey (29 July 2013). "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE transfered [sic] to the football pitch". HΓΌrriyet Daily News.
- ^ Category: Asia (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Persian Gulf League". Inside World Football.
- ^ "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News. 21 July 2013.
- ^ Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uaeproleague.ae. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship - News - UAE Pro League Committee". agleague.ae. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ "Arabian Gulf Development takes UAE League Cup title spot". SportBusiness Sponsorship. 2 April 2014.
- ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024". FootyRankings. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2022". www.the-afc.com. 15 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Atsushi Fujioka (19 May 2011). "United Arab Emirates - List of Champions". UAE FA website. RSSSF. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "PRESS STATEMANT". 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
- ^ "ΩΩ Ψ§Ψ°Ψ§ Ψ³ΨͺΩΨΆΨΉ ΩΨ¬Ω Ψ© ΨΉΩΩ ΩΩ Ψ΅Ψ§Ω Ψ¨ΨΉΨΆ Ψ§ΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ§ΩΨ₯Ω Ψ§Ψ±Ψ§ΨͺΩΨ©Ψ - Ψ³Ψ¨ΩΨ±Ψͺ 360 ΨΉΨ±Ψ¨ΩΨ©". arabic.sport360.com.
- ^ "100s". FootballUAE.net. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "United Arab Emirates 1974/75". RSSSF.
- ^ "Ψ§ΩΨ£Ψ¨Ψ·Ψ§Ω.. Ω Ω Ψ§ΩΩΩΨ§ΩΨ© Ψ₯ΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ§ΨΨͺΨ±Ψ§Ω" (in Arabic). AlBayan.ae.
- ^ "Scorers 1980-2001". FootballUAE.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 16 December 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "1983β84: Goals" (in Arabic). Al Ittihad.
- ^ "1984β91" (in Arabic). Al Ittihad.
- ^ "1991β92: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "1993β94: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "1995β96: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "The Pro-League 4th edition launches today". AGLeague.
- ^ "1999β00: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "2000-01: Goals". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "2000-01: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "2001-02: Goals". GulfNews.
- ^ "2002-03: Goals". GulfNews.
- ^ "2003-04: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "2004-05: Goals". Goalzz.
- ^ "2005-06: Goals". Goalzz.
- ^ "2007-08: Goals". Goalzz.
- ^ "2009-10: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2010-11: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2011-12: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2012β13: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2013-14: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2014-15: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2015-16: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2016-17: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2017-18: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2018-19: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2019-20: Goals". Soccerway.
- ^ "2020-21: Goals". Soccerway.
External linksβ»
- Official website (in English and Arabic)