UAE Pro League
 | |
| Organising body | Pro League Committee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 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) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Al Ain (14 titles) |
| TV partners | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports Sharjah Sports |
| Website | uaeproleague |
| Current: 2024–25 UAE Pro League season | |
The UAE Pro League (Arabic: دوري المحترفين الإماراتي), known for sponsorship reasons as the ADNOC Pro League,[1] is the top professional football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first team to win the title was Al Orouba (Sharjah), whilst Al Ain has the record with 14 league titles to 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 1973–74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by the UAE FA in 2001.[2] In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed, and became the organising body of the League.
Name change
[edit]Starting from the 2006–07 season the name was changed from UAE League to Etisalat League. And since the 2013–14 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.[3] However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute[4] with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of bigotry,[5] and the Iranian Football Federation barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club.[6] 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.[7][8][9] On 8 August, the Pro League signed a new partnership deal with ADNOC worth 80 million AED, from the start of the 2021–22 season, the league was renamed to the UAE's ADNOC Pro League.[1]
Ranking
[edit]As of 26 May 2024[10]
| Ranking | Member association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) |
Club points | Total | 2025–26 Competition | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 2022 [11] |
Mvmt | Region | 2015 (×0.3) |
2016 (×0.4) |
2017 (×0.5) |
2018 (×0.6) |
2019 (×0.7) |
2021 (×0.8) |
2022 (×0.9) |
2023–24 (×1.0) |
ACL Elite | ACL Two | Challenge | ||
| 1 | 1 |  — |
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 | — |
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 | — |
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 |
Clubs
[edit]Member clubs (2024–25)
[edit]- 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 Urooba | Qidfa / Mirbah | Al Sharqi Stadium | 3,000 |
| 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 |
| Dibba Al Hisn | Dibba Al-Hisn | Dibba (H) Stadium | 700 |
| 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 1973–74 to 2007–08. The below list is clubs that have competed in the UAE top-tier league since the Pro League era starting in 2008–09.
Seasons in Pro League
[edit]- 16 seasons: Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Al Wahda, Al Wasl
- 15 seasons: Sharjah
- 14 seasons: Baniyas
- 13 seasons: Ajman, Al Dhafra
- 10 seasons: Emirates, Kalba
- 9 seasons: Al Ahli, Al Shabab
- 7 seasons: Shabab Al Ahli
- 6 seasons: Dibba Al Fujairah, Khor Fakkan
- 4 seasons: Al Shaab, Dubai, Fujairah, Hatta
- 3 seasons: Al Bataeh
- 2 seasons: Al Urooba
- 1 season: Dibba Al Hisn
Notes:
- Italtics indicates that the club no longer exists
- Bold indicates that the club is still competing in the UAE Pro League as of 2024–25
Managers
[edit]| Nat. | Name | Club | Appointed | Time in charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Cosmin Olăroiu | Sharjah | 10 November 2021 | 894 days |
 |
Marko Nikolić | Shabab Al-Ahli | 2 June 2023 | 325 days |
|
Miloš Milojević | Al Wasl | ||
 |
Darko Milanič | Baniyas | 8 June 2023 | 319 day |
 |
Fabio Viviani | Hatta | 5 September 2023 | 230 days |
|
Daniel Isăilă | Ajman | 3 October 2023 | 202 days |
 |
Nebojša Jovović | Khor Fakkan | 28 October 2023 | 177 days |
 |
Hernán Crespo | Al Ain | 14 November 2023 | 160 days |
 |
Alfred Schreuder | Al Nasr | 27 November 2023 | 147 days |
|
Goran Tufegdžić | Al Wahda | 3 January 2024 | 110 days |
|
Mirel Rădoi | Al Jazira | 5 January 2024 | 108 days |
|
Walter Zenga | Emirates | ||
 |
Goran Tomić | Al Bataeh | 7 January 2024 | 106 days |
 |
Ghazi Fahad | Ittihad Kalba | 2 March 2024 | 51 days |
List of champions
[edit]Source:[12]
Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due to Persian Gulf War
2.^ Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates[13]
Champions
[edit]Performance by club
[edit]As of 2024, 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.[14]
| Club | Won | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
Al Ain 
|
14
|
9
|
1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22 |
| Al Wasl
|
8
|
8
|
1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24 |
| Shabab Al Ahli
|
8
|
4
|
1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Sharjah
|
6
|
7
|
1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19 |
| Al Wahda | 4
|
5
|
1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10 |
| Al Jazira | 3
|
5
|
2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21 |
| Al Nasr | 4
|
1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86 | |
| Al Shababc | 3
|
1
|
1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08 |
| Al Shaabd | 0
|
2
|
— |
| Baniyas | 0
|
2
|
— |
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 city
[edit]| City / Area | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 22
|
Al Ahli | (8): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Al Wasl | (8): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24 | ||
| Al Nasr | (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86 | ||
| Al Shabab | (3): 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08 | ||
| Al Ain | 14
|
Al Ain | (14): 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22 |
| Abu Dhabi | 7
|
Al Wahda | (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10 |
| Al Jazira | (3): 2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21 | ||
| Sharjah | 6
|
Sharjah | (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19 |
Performance by emirates
[edit]| Emirates | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 22
|
Al Ahli | (8): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Al Wasl | (8): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24 | ||
| Al Nasr | (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86 | ||
| Al Shabab | (3): 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08 | ||
| Abu Dhabi | 21
|
Al Ain | (14): 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22 |
| Al Wahda | (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10 | ||
| Al Jazira | (3): 2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21 | ||
| Sharjah | 6
|
Sharjah | (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19 |
Players
[edit]All-time top scorers
[edit]Source:[15]
| Rank | Nat | Name | Club | Years | Goals | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira Al Nasr |
2009– | 222 | 306 |
| 2 |
|
Sebastián Tagliabúe | Al Wahda Al Nasr Sharjah |
2013–2024 | 184 | 239 |
| 3 |
|
Fahad Khamees | Al Wasl | 1980–1997 | 175 | — |
| 4 |
|
Fábio Lima | Al Wasl | 2014– | 167 | 222 |
| 5 |
|
Adnan Al Talyani | Al Shaab | 1980–1999 | 133 | — |
| 6 |
|
Mohammad Omar | Al Wasl Al Ain Al Jazira Al Dhafra Al Nasr Ajman |
1992–2011 | 132 | — |
| 7 | Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 1980–2003 | 127 | — | |
| 8 | Ahmed Abdullah | Al Ain | 1978–1995 | 122 | — | |
| 9 | Atiq Hassan | Al Ahli | 1988–2002 | 119 | — | |
| 10 | Faisal Khalil | Al Ahli Al Wasl Al Shaab |
1999–2013 | 114 | 302 | |
| 11 | 
|
Makhete Diop | Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah |
2011–2018, 2021–2023 | 108 | 180 |
| 12 | 
|
Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba | Al-Ain | 2019– | 103 | 110 |
| 13 | 
|
Asamoah Gyan | Al-Ain Al Ahli |
2011–2017 | 101 | 97 |
| 14 |
|
Ismail Matar | Al Wahda | 2001–2024 | 101 | 418 |
| 15 | 
|
Anderson Barbosa | Sharjah Al Wasl |
2003–2009 | 99 | 128 |
| 16 |
|
Ahmed Khalil | Al Ain Shabab Al Ahli Al Bataeh |
2007– | 94 | 263 |
| 17 |
|
Ali Thani | Sharjah | — | 93 | — |
Top scorers by season
[edit]| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75[16] | Suhail Salim
|
Al Ahli | 14 |
| 1975–76[17] |  Ali Nawaz Baloch
|
Emirates | 13 |
| 1976–77[17] |  Alfadel Santo
|
Al Nasr | 11 |
| 1977–78[17] |  Mohieddine Habita
|
Al Ain | 20 |
| 1978–79[17] |  Mostafa Mahrous
|
Al Ahli | 16 |
| 1979–80[17] | Alo Ali Mohamed
|
Emirates | 14 |
| 1980–81[18] | Karim Abdul Razak
| ||
| 1981–82[17] | Ahmed Abdullah
|
Al Ain | 13 |
| 1982–83[19] | Luiz Carlos[17]
|
Al Nasr | 12 |
| 1983–84[20] | Ahmed Abdullah Fahad Khamees
|
Al Ain Al Wasl |
20 |
| 1984–85[21] | Fahad Khamees Adnan Al Talyani
|
Al Wasl Al Shaab |
14 |
| 1985–86[18][21] | Mohammed Salem
|
Al Wahda | 16 |
| 1986–87[18][21] | Adnan Al Talyani Khalil Ghanim
|
Al Shaab Khor Fakkan |
13 |
| 1987–88[17] | Zuhair Bakheet
|
Al Wasl | 24 |
| 1988–89[17] | Fahad Khamees
|
13 | |
| 1989–90[21] | Hussain Yaslam
|
Baniyas | 16 |
| 1990–91 | Cancelleda | ||
| 1991–92[22] | Youssouf Atiq
|
Al Ahli | 25 |
| 1992–93[17] | Saif Sultan
|
Al Ain | 21 |
| 1993–94[18][23] | Abdulaziz Mohamed
|
Sharjah | 18 |
| 1994–95[18][17] | Bader Jassim
|
Al Wahda | 10 |
| 1995–96[17][24] | Jassim Al Dokhi
|
Al Shaab | |
| 1996–97[18][17] | Bader Jassim
|
Al Wahda | 11 |
| 1997–98[17] | Ali Thani
|
Sharjah | 19 |
| 1998–99[25] | Alboury Lah
|
Al Wahda | 29 |
| 1999–00[17][26] | 18 | ||
| 2000–01[27][28] |  Mohammed Al Enazi
|
22 | |
| 2001–02[27][29] | |||
| 2002–03[30] |  Cristián Montecinos
|
Dubai | 19 |
| 2003–04[31] |  Ali Karimi
|
Al Ahli | 14 |
| 2004–05[19][32] | Valdir Anderson Barbosa
|
Al Nasr Sharjah |
23 |
| 2005–06[33] | Anderson Barbosa
|
Sharjah | 20 |
| 2006–07[17] | Anderson Barbosa Ali Samereh
|
Al Wasl Al Shaab |
18 |
| 2007–08[34] | Faisal Khalil Anderson Barbosa
|
Al Ahli Sharjah |
16 |
| 2008–09[17] | Fernando Baiano
|
Al Jazira | 24 |
| 2009–10[35] | José Sand
|
Al Ain | |
| 2010–11[36] | André Senghor
|
Baniyas | 18 |
| 2011–12[37] | Asamoah Gyan
|
Al Ain | 22 |
| 2012–13[38] | 31 | ||
| 2013–14[39] | 29 | ||
| 2014–15[40] | Mirko Vučinić
|
Al Jazira | 25 |
| 2015–16[41] | Sebastián Tagliabúe
|
Al Wahda | |
| 2016–17[42] | Ali Mabkhout
|
Al Jazira | 33 |
| 2017–18[43] |  Marcus Berg
|
Al Ain | 25 |
| 2018–19[44] | Sebastián Tagliabúe
|
Al Wahda | 27 |
| 2019–20[45] | Kodjo Laba
|
Al Ain | 19 |
| 2020–21[46] | Ali Mabkhout
|
Al Jazira | 25 |
| 2021–22 | Kodjo Laba
|
Al Ain | 26 |
| 2022–23 | 28 | ||
| 2023–24 |  Omar Khribin
|
Al Wahda | 18 |
Top scorers by country
[edit]| 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
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b "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". Hürriyet 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.
- ^ "لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ – سبورت 360 عربية". arabic.sport360.com.
- ^ "100s". FootballUAE.net. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "United Arab Emirates 1974/75". RSSSF.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "الأبطال.. من الهواية إلى الاحتراف" (in Arabic). AlBayan.ae.
- ^ a b c d e f "Scorers 1980–2001". FootballUAE.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 16 December 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "1983–84: Goals" (in Arabic). Al Ittihad.
- ^ a b c d "1984–91" (in Arabic). Al Ittihad.
- ^ "1991–92: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "1993–94: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "1995–96: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ "The Pro-League 4th edition launches today". AGLeague.
- ^ "1999–00: Goals". RSSSF.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "2012–13: 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 links
[edit]- Official website (in English and Arabic)
| National teams | ||
|---|---|---|
| League system | ||
| Domestic cups |
| |
| International Competitions | ||
