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Kuwait Premier League

Field	Value
name	Kuwaiti Premier League
pixels	300
founded
teams	10
relegation	Kuwaiti Division One
levels	1
country	Kuwait
confed	AFC
confed_cup	AFC Champions League Two
AFC Challenge League
Arab Club Champions Cup
domest_cup	Kuwait Emir Cup
Kuwait Crown Prince Cup
Kuwait Super Cup
champions	Kuwait SC (20th title)
season	2024–25
most successful club	Kuwait SC (20 titles)
top goalscorer	KUW Bader Al-Mutawa (175 goals)
tv	Shasha
current	2025–26 Kuwaiti Premier League

AFC Challenge League Arab Club Champions Cup Kuwait Crown Prince Cup Kuwait Super Cup

The Kuwaiti Premier League (), known as Zain Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Kuwait football pyramid system. Formed in 1961, Kuwait SC holds the best record in the competition, having won 20 times.

Premier League 2025–26 Clubs

Al-Kuwait
Al Arabi
Al-Qadsia
Al-Salmiya
Fahaheel
Al Nasar
Kazma
Al-Jahra
Al-Shabab
Al-Tadamon

History

The Kuwaiti Premier League officially began in the 1961–62 season, after playing unofficially for eight years (played with group of clubs: "Ahli - Al Jazeera - Arabism - Gulf - Solidarity - Al-Qubali, Al-Nahda, Al-Sharqai, Al-Merqab, Al-Mawalim and Al-Taawon). National companies and ministries were club's first sponsors.

1960s

In the 1961–1962 season, several new clubs joined (Al-Arabi, Qadsia, Kuwait SC, Kifan High School, Shuwaikh Secondary School, Industrial College and Police Team). Al-Arabi won the league title without losing, and winning 7 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 42 goals and conceding 10.

In the following season, the number of teams was reduced to 7. Al-Arabi managed to win the second title in a row after winning 18 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 45 goals and conceding 6.

The third season of the league almost witnessed the end of Arabi monopoly, after fierce competition from Qadsia and other teams. Arabi and Qadsia were equal on points before the decisive match. Al-Arabi managed to maintain the title after defeating Qadsia 2-0, scoring overall 42 goals and conceding nine.

In the fourth season, school teams were removed from participating and league saw participation of 3 new clubs (Salmiya, Fahaheel and Al-Shabab). Kuwait SC managed to end the Arabi monopoly to achieve its first title, after winning the competition without any defeat.

The 1960s witnessed a sweep of Al-Arabi when it won six titles against two titles for Kuwait SC and a title for Qadsia.

1970s

The 1970 era began with Qadsia winning the 1971–1970 season for the second time in its history. Al-Arabi lost its championship in a strange way during ten years. They did not win any title during this period until the end of the 1979–1980 season.

1980s

The eighties witnessed three new league champions, namely Salmiya who won its first title in the 1980–81 season, and Kazma club which won the titles of 1985–86 and 1986–87, as well as Al-Jahra SC, which ended the 1980s by winning the title in the 1989–90 season.

1990s

The league championship was not held in the 1990–91 season because of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Competition began again in the 1991–92 season, which was held as group system with qualification. Old format returned with participation of 14 teams in the 1994–95 season. Era of the nineties witnessed a parity between clubs, with both Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya winning 3 titles, and Qadsia and Kazma winning two.

2000s

At the beginning of a new millennium, Kuwait SC achieved the league championship after a long absence of 22 years. The most dominant team in this decade were Qadsia winning 5, followed be Kuwait SC winning 4, and Al Arabi winning in the 2001–02 season

2010s

This decades titles were split between Kuwait SC and Qadsia. with Kuwait SC winning 6 and Qadsia winning 4. Qadsia were able to become the 2nd ever team to win 4 titles in a row by winning the 2011–12 season. Kuwait SC were also able to win 4 titles in a row between 2016–17 and 2019–20.

2020s (until 2024–25)

This decade started with Al-Arabi winning the 2020–21 season, followed by Kuwait SC winning another 4 titles in a row between 2021–22 and 2024–25 making Kuwait SC the only Kuwaiti Club to win 4 titles in a row twice.

Previous winners

Source:

By season

1961–62 : Al-Arabi
1962–63 : Al-Arabi
1963–64 : Al-Arabi
1964–65 : Al-Kuwait
1965–66 : Al-Arabi
1966–67 : Al-Arabi
1967–68 : Al-Kuwait
1968–69 : Al-Qadsia SC
1969–70 : Al-Arabi
1970–71 : Al-Qadsia SC
1971–72 : Al-Kuwait
1972–73 : Al-Qadsia SC
1973–74 : Al-Kuwait
1974–75 : Al-Qadsia SC
1975–76 : Al-Qadsia SC
1976–77 : Al-Kuwait
1977–78 : Al-Qadsia SC
1978–79 : Al-Kuwait
1979–80 : Al-Arabi
1980–81 : Al-Salmiya
1981–82 : Al-Arabi
1982–83 : Al-Arabi
1983–84 : Al-Arabi
1984–85 : Al-Arabi
1985–86 : Kazma
1986–87 : Kazma
1987–88 : Al-Arabi
1988–89 : Al-Arabi
1989–90 : Al-Jahra
1990–91 : Not held due to Gulf War
1991–92 : Al-Qadsia SC
1992–93 : Al-Arabi SC
1993–94 : Kazma SC
1994–95 : Al-Salmiya SC
1995–96 : Kazma SC
1996–97 : Al-Arabi SC
1997–98 : Al-Salmiya SC
1998–99 : Al-Qadsia SC
1999–2000 : Al-Salmiya SC
2000–01 : Kuwait SC
2001–02 : Al-Arabi SC
2002–03 : Al-Qadsia SC
2003–04 : Al-Qadsia SC
2004–05 : Al-Qadsia SC
2005–06 : Kuwait SC
2006–07 : Kuwait SC
2007–08 : Kuwait SC
2008–09 : Al-Qadsia SC
2009–10 : Al-Qadsia SC
2010–11 : Al-Qadsia SC
2011–12 : Al-Qadsia SC
2012–13 : Kuwait SC
2013–14 : Al-Qadsia SC
2014–15 : Kuwait SC
2015–16 : Al-Qadsia SC
2016–17 : Kuwait SC
2017–18 : Kuwait SC
2018–19 : Kuwait SC
2019–20 : Kuwait SC
2020–21 : Al-Arabi SC
2021–22 : Kuwait SC
2022–23 : Kuwait SC
2023–24 : Kuwait SC
2024–25 : Kuwait SC
2025–26 : TBD

Most titles

Club	Titles	Seasons
Kuwait SC		1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
Al-Arabi		1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1979–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2020–21
Qadsia		1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16
Kazma		1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 1995–96
Al-Salmiya		1980–81, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1999–00
Al-Jahra		1989–90

Total titles won by Governorate

Governorate	Number of titles	Clubs
Al Asimah		Kuwait SC (20), Al-Arabi (17), Kazma (4)
Hawalli		Qadisia (17), Al-Salmiya (4)
Jahra		Al-Jahra (1)

Topscorers

All-time top scorers

Rank	Players	Goals	Club(s)
1	KUW Bader Al-Mutawa	176	Qadsia
2	SYR Firas Al-Khatib	162	Al-Nasr, Al-Arabi, Qadsia, Al-Salmiya, Kuwait
3	KUW Jasem Yaqoub	146	Qadsia
4	KUW Faisal Al-Dakhil	141	Qadsia
5	KUW Yussef Al-Suwayed	137	Kazma
6	BRA Patrick Fabiano	133	Al-Nasr, Kazma, Al-Salmiya, Kuwait
7	KUW Yousef Naser	117	Kazma, Qadsia, Kuwait SC
8	KUW Ali Marwi	111	Al-Salmiya
9	KUW Abdulrahman Al-Dawla	105	Al-Arabi
10	KUW Bashar Abdullah	104	Al-Salmiya, Kuwait

Topscorers by season

Year	Top scorers	Team	Goals
1961–62	KUW Khalifa Al-Shatti	Qadsia	21
KUW Saleh Zakaria	Al-Kuliya Al-Sanaya
1962–63	Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla	Al-Arabi	15
1963–64	KUW Othman Al-Ossimi	Qadsia	17
1964–65	Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla	Al-Arabi	16
1965–66	Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla	Al-Arabi	22
1966–67	Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla	Al-Arabi	12
1967–68	KUW Mohamed Yusif	Al-Salmiya	6
1968–69	KUW Mohamed Al-Misud	Qadsia	6
KUW Ali Hasiz Arti		Al-Arabi
1969–70	EGY Hassan Shehata	Kazma	7
1970–71	EGY Hassan Shehata	Kazma	9
1971–72	KUW Mohamed Al Misud	Qadsia	7
EGY Hassan Shehata	Kazma
1972–73	KUW Ali Al-Mali	Al-Arabi	16
1973–74	KUW Jasem Yaqoub	Qadsia	10
1974–75	KUW Jasem Yaqoub	Qadsia	25
1975–76	KUW Jasem Yaqoub	Qadsia	16
1976–77	KUW Faisal Al-Dakhil	Qadsia	12
KUW Jasem Yaqoub	Qadsia
1977–78	KUW Saud Buhamad	Qadsia	10
1978–79	KUW Ali Al-Mali	Al-Arabi	10
1979–80	KUW Jasem Yaqoub	Qadsia	31
1980–81	KUW Faisal Al-Dakhil	Qadsia	19
KUW Ahmad Khalaf	Al-Arabi
1981–82	KUW Tariq Najm	Kazma	16
1982–83	KUW Talib Hasin	Sulaibikhat	23
1983–84	KUW Yussef Al-Suwayed	Kazma	26
1984–85	KUW Faisal Al-Dakhil	Qadsia	22
1985–86	KUW Salah Al-Masnad	Kazma	9
1986–87	KUW Nassir Al-Ghanem	Kazma	9
1987–88	KUW Faisal Al-Dakhil	Qadsia	11
1988–89	KUW Bader Al-Anbari	Kazma	8
1989–90	KUW Khaled Al-Nasr	Al-Arabi	8
1991–92	Kuwait Jassem Al Houwaidi	Al-Salmiya	10
1992–93	KUW Ali Marwi	Al-Salmiya	10
1993–94	KUW Hamad Al Salah	Qadsia	12
KUW Nawaf Jadid	Al Jahra
1994–95	CZE Roman Hanus	Kazma	13
1995–96	BRA Luiz Carlos	Kazma	14
1996–97	BRA Luiz Carlos	Kazma	11
1997–98	KUW Ali Marwi	Al-Salmiya	28
1998–99	KUW Ali Marwi	Al-Salmiya	22
1999–2000	Kuwait Bashar Abdullah	Al-Salmiya	11
2000–01	Kuwait Faraj Laheeb
Kuwait Bashar Abdullah	Kuwait
Al-Salmiya	10
2001–02		Senegal Malek John	Kazma	10
2002–03		Brazil Dênis Marques	Kuwait	9
2003–04	Kuwait Khalaf Al Salamah	Qadsia	12
2004–05	Syria Firas Al Khatib	Al-Arabi	13
2005–06	Kuwait Hamad Al Harbi	Al-Fahaheel	22
2006–07	Kuwait Bashar Abdullah	Kuwait	10
2007–08	Kuwait Ahmad Ajab	Qadsia	14
2008–09	Brazil Careca	Kuwait	13
2009–10	Oman Ismail Al Ajmi	Kuwait	13
2010–11	Syria Firas Al Khatib	Qadsia	14
2011–12	Brazil Vinícius Lopes	Al-Jahra	9
2012–13	Brazil Rogerinho	Kuwait	11
2013–14	Syria Omar Al Soma	Qadsia	23
2014–15	Brazil Patrick Fabiano	Kazma	22
2015–16	Syria Firas Al Khatib	Al-Arabi	23
2016–17	Brazil David da Silva	Qadsia	14
2017–18	Kuwait Faisal Ajab	Al Tadhamon	15
2018–19	Kuwait Hussain Al-Musawi	Al-Arabi	17
2019–20	Kuwait Yousef Nasser
BRA Patrick Fabiano	Kuwait
Al-Salmiya	14
2020–21	Palestine Oday Dabbagh	Al-Arabi	13
2021–22	Kuwait Shabaib Al-Khaldi	Kazma	11
2022–23	Tunisia Taha Yassine Khenissi	Kuwait	20
2023–24	Morocco Hamza Khabba	Al-Arabi	21
2024–25	BRA Vitor Vieira	Al-Fahaheel	22

Participation by the years

Period	Number of clubs
1961–62	7
1962–63 to 1970–71	6
1971–72 to 1973–74	7
1974–75 to 1978–79	8
1979–80 to 1984–85	14*
1985–86	7
1986–87 to 1989–90	8
1990–91	N/A **Not held due to
Gulf War**
1991–92	14*
1992–93 to 1993–94	8
1994–95	14*
1995–96	6*

Period	Number of clubs
1996–97	13*
1997–98 to 1999–2000	14
2000–01 to 2002–03	8
2003–04 to 2005–06	14
2006–07	8
2007–08	9
2008–09 to 2012–13	8
2013–14 to 2014–15	14*
2015–16	13*
2016–17	15
2017–18	8
2018–19–present	10

Notes:

1979–80 to 1984–85: Kuwaiti Division One was Stopped.
1991–92: all Clubs participated after the Gulf War
1994–95: Kuwaiti Division One was Stopped.
1996–97: Qadsia SC Withdrew.
2013–14 to 2014–15: Kuwaiti Division One was Stopped.
2015–16: Al Tadhamon SC Withdrew.

References

Atsushi Fujioka. (6 May 2016). "Kuwait – List of Champions".
"الاتحاد الكويتي لكرة القدم".
"دوري VIVA الكويت".
"دوري VIVA الكويت".
"دوري VIVA الكويت".
"دوري VIVA الكويت".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

kuwait-premier-league football-leagues-in-kuwait top-level-football-leagues-in-asia sports-leagues-established-in-1961 1961-establishments-in-kuwait football-cup-competitions-in-kuwait

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