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UAE Pro League

Top division in Emirati football

Top division in Emirati football

As of 26 May 2024

RankingMember associationClub pointsTotal2025–26 Competition2023–242022MvmtRegion20152016201720182019202120222023–24ACL EliteACL TwoChallenge
11—W 1KSA Saudi Arabia (L, C)15.2509.50018.60010.00026.35020.95019.07527.100103.1483+01+00
22—E 1JPN Japan (L, C, LC)15.25010.50021.85013.85021.80017.87520.08821.35096.9993+01+00
33—E 2KOR South Korea (L, C)16.75020.7509.95018.35013.60022.75015.80022.35093.6002+11+00
46+2W 2UAE United Arab Emirates (L, C)25.00018.00011.3508.1007.63314.4008.08324.00073.3732+11+00

Clubs

Member clubs (2025–26)

: Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.

ClubHome cityStadiumCapacity
AjmanAjmanAjman Stadium
Al AinAl-AinHazza Bin Zayed Stadium
Al BataehAl BataehAl Bataeh Stadium
Al DhafraMadinat ZayedAl Dhafra Stadium
Al JaziraAbu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium
Al NasrDubai (Oud Metha)Al-Maktoum Stadium
Al WahdaAbu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)Al Nahyan Stadium
Al WaslDubai (Zabeel)Zabeel Stadium
BaniyasAbu Dhabi (Al Shamkha)Baniyas Stadium
Dibba Al FujairahDibba Al FujairahDibba New Stadium
KalbaKalbaIttihad Kalba Stadium
Khor FakkanKhor FakkanSaqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium
Shabab Al AhliDubai (Deira)Rashid Stadium
SharjahSharjahSharjah Stadium

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

  • 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

Nat.NameClubAppointedTime in charge
Paulo SousaShabab Al-Ahli
Goran TufegdžićAjman
Vuk RašovićKalba
Farhad MajidiAl Bataeh
Vladimir IvićAl Ain
Slaviša JokanovićAl Nasr
José MoraisAl Wahda
Hassan Al AbdooliKhor Fakkan
Željko PetrovićAl Dhafra
Marino PušićAl Jazira
Daniel IsăilăBaniyas
Ciprian PanaitDibba
Mesut MeralAl Wasl
Abdulmajid Al NimerSharjah

List of champions

Source:

yasNoSeasonChampionRunner up
11973–74SharjahAl Ahli
21974–75Al AhliSharjah
31975–76Al Ain
41976–77Al AinSharjah
51977–78Al NasrAl Ain
61978–79Sharjah
71979–80Al AhliAl Shaab
81980–81Al AinAl Nasr
91981–82Al WaslAl Ain
101982–83Sharjah
111983–84Al AinAl Wasl
121984–85Al WaslAl Shaab
131985–86Al NasrAl Wasl
141986–87Sharjah
151987–88Al WaslSjarjah
161988–89SharjahAl Wasl
171989–90Al Shabab
×1990–91Cancelled
181991–92Al WaslSharjah
191992–93Al AinAl Wasl
201993–94SharjahAl Ain
211994–95Al Shabab
221995–96SharjahAl Wasl
231996–97Al WaslAl Nasr
241997–98Al AinSharjah
251998–99Al WahdaAl Ain
261999–2000Al AinAl Nasr
272000–01Al WahdaAl Ahli
282001–02Al AinAl Jazira
292002–03Al Wahda
302003–04Al Shabab
312004–05Al WahdaAl Ain
322005–06Al AhliAl Wahda
332006–07Al Wasl
342007–08Al ShababAl Jazira
352008–09Al Ahli
362009–10Al Wahda
372010–11Al JaziraBaniyas
382011–12Al AinAl Nasr
392012–13Al Ahli
402013–14Al AhliAl Wahda
412014–15Al AinAl Jazira
422015–16Al AhliAl Ain
432016–17Al JaziraAl Wasl
442017–18Al AinAl Wahda
452018–19SharjahShabab Al Ahli
×2019–20Cancelled
462020–21Al JaziraBaniyas
472021–22Al AinSharjah
482022–23Shabab Al AhliAl Ain
492023–24Al WaslShabab Al Ahli
502024–25Shabab Al AhliSharjah

|} Notes

  1. Competition cancelled due to Gulf War

  2. Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

Champions

Performance by club

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.

ClubWonRunners-upWinning seasons
*Al Ain [[File:Stella_10_Scudetti.svgframeless13x13px]] [[File:Stella_10_Scudetti.svgframeless13x13px]]*1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22
*Shabab Al Ahli [[File:Stella_10_Scudetti.svgframeless13x13px]]*1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2024–25
*Al Wasl [[File:Stella_10_Scudetti.svgframeless13x13px]]*1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24
*Sharjah [[File:Stella_10_Scudetti.svgframeless13x13px]]*1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19
Al Wahda1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21
Al Nasr1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Shabab1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08
Al Shaab—
Baniyas—

Notes

  1. Al Shabab and Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli to form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017.

  2. Al Shaab folded in 2017.

Performance by city

City / AreaTitlesClubsWinning seasons
DubaiShabab Al-Ahli(9): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2024–25
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 AinAl 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 DhabiAl Wahda(4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira(3): 2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21
SharjahSharjah(6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

Performance by emirates

EmiratesTitlesClubsWinning seasons
DubaiShabab Al Ahli(9): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2024–25
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 DhabiAl 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
SharjahSharjah(6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

Players

All-time top scorers

Source:

RankNatNameClubYearsGoalsApps
1UAEAli MabkhoutAl Jazira2009–226313
2UAESebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda2013–2024184239
3UAEFahad KhameesAl Wasl1980–1997175
4UAEFábio LimaAl Wasl2014–170230
5UAEMohammad OmarAl Wasl1992–2011132
6UAEAdnan Al TalyaniAl Shaab1980–1999131
7UAEAbdulaziz MohamedSharjah1980–2003128
8UAEAhmed AbdullahAl Ain1978–1995122
9UAEYoussouf Al-Atiq HassanAl Ahli1988–2002119
10UAEFaisal KhalilAl Ahli1999–2013114302
11TOGKodjo Fo-Doh LabaAl-Ain2019–113119
12SENMakhete DiopAl Dhafra2011–2018, 2021–2023108180
13GHAAsamoah GyanAl-Ain2011–201710197
14UAEIsmail MatarAl Wahda2001–2024101418
15BRAAnderson BarbosaSharjah2003–200999128
16UAECaio CanedoAl Ain2014–99218
17UAEAhmed KhalilAl Ain2007–96273
18UAEAli ThaniSharjah93
19UAEAissa SangourAl Shabab88
20UAEZuhair BakheetAl Wasl88
21UAESaeed Al-KassSharjah87
22UAEMajid Al OwaisAl Ain86
23UAEQATMohammed Salem Al-EnaziAl Wahda83
24CIVBoris Kabi82146
25UAENasir KhameesAl Wasl82
26UAECIVIbrahim DiakyAl Ain80
27UAEKhalid IsmailAl Nasr75
28SYROmar KhribinAl Wahda75117
29SENAndré Senghor73118
30BRACaio LucasAl Ain73169

Top scorers by season===

SeasonPlayerClubGoals
1973–74UAE Saeed Hareb AlFalahiAl Ahli
1974–75UAE Suhail SalimAl Ahli14
1975–76PAK Ali Nawaz BalochEmirates13
1976–77SUD Alfadel SantoAl Nasr11
1977–78TUN Mohieddine HabitaAl Ain20
1978–79MAR Mostafa MahrousAl Ahli16
1979–80UAE Alo Ali MohamedEmirates14
1980–81GHA Karim Abdul Razak
1981–82UAE Ahmed AbdullahAl Ain13
1982–83BRA Luiz CarlosAl Nasr12
1983–84UAE Ahmed AbdullahAl Ain20
1984–85UAE Fahad KhameesAl Wasl14
1985–86UAE Mohammed SalemAl Wahda16
1986–87UAE Adnan Al TalyaniAl Shaab13
1987–88UAE Zuhair BakheetAl Wasl24
1988–89UAE Fahad Khamees13
1989–90UAE Hussain YaslamBaniyas16
1990–91Cancelled
1991–92UAE Youssouf AtiqAl Ahli25
1992–93UAE Saif SultanAl Ain21
1993–94UAE Abdulaziz MohamedSharjah18
1994–95UAE Bader JassimAl Wahda10
1995–96UAE Jassim Al DokhiAl Shaab
1996–97UAE Bader JassimAl Wahda11
1997–98UAE Ali ThaniSharjah19
1998–99SEN Alboury LahAl Wahda29
1999–0018
2000–01UAEQAT Mohammed Al Enazi22
2001–02
2002–03Chile Cristián MontecinosDubai19
2003–04Iran Ali KarimiAl Ahli14
2004–05Brazil ValdirAl Nasr23
2005–06Brazil Anderson BarbosaSharjah20
2006–07Brazil Anderson BarbosaAl Wasl18
2007–08UAE Faisal KhalilAl Ahli16
2008–09Brazil Fernando BaianoAl Jazira24
2009–10Argentina José SandAl Ain
2010–11SEN André SenghorBaniyas18
2011–12GHA Asamoah GyanAl Ain22
2012–1331
2013–1429
2014–15MNE Mirko VučinićAl Jazira25
2015–16ARG Sebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda
2016–17UAE Ali MabkhoutAl Jazira33
2017–18SWE Marcus BergAl Ain25
2018–19Argentina Sebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda27
2019–20Togo Kodjo LabaAl Ain19
2020–21UAE Ali MabkhoutAl Jazira25
2021–22TOG Kodjo LabaAl Ain26
2022–2328
2023–24SYR Omar KhribinAl Wahda18
2024–25TOG Kodjo LabaAl Ain20

Top scorers by country

CountryPlayersSeasons
United Arab Emirates1722
Brazil46
Ghana24
Argentina3
Senegal
Togo4
Iran11
Pakistan
Sudan
Tunisia
Chile
Montenegro
Sweden
Syria

Honours

Tournaments

Intercontinental

  • Club World Cup (7 appearances): 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024, 2025
    • Runners-up (1): 2018 (Al Ain)
  • Granada City Cup (1 appearance): 2025
    • Champions (1): 2025 (Al Ain)
  • Morocco Friendship Cup (2 appearances): 2015, 2016
    • Champions (2): 2015 (Al Ain), 2016 (Shabab Al Ahli)

Continental

Regional

Summary

Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

CompetitionTotalTotal35210
Club World Cup0101
Asian Champions League 12327
Asian Champions League 21102

Individual

Intercontinental

  • Asian Footballer of the Year (1 appearance): 1990
    • **** Third place (1): 1990 (Adnan Al-Talyani — Sharjah)

Continental

  • Asian Footballer of the Year (8 appearances): 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
    • **** Winner (3): 2004 (Ali Karimi — Shabab Al Ahli), 2015 (Ahmed Khalil — Shabab Al Ahli), 2016 (Omar Abdulrahman — Al Ain)

References

References

  1. "ADNOC and UAE Pro League announce title partnership". WAM.
  2. "1973/74 UAE Football League".
  3. (26 May 2013). "New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi". Pro League Committee.
  4. James M. Dorsey. (29 July 2013). "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE {{sic". Hürriyet Daily News.
  5. Category: Asia. (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Persian Gulf League". Inside World Football.
  6. (21 July 2013). "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News.
  7. Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League – News – UAE Pro League Committee".
  8. Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship – News – UAE Pro League Committee".
  9. (2 April 2014). "Arabian Gulf Development takes UAE League Cup title spot".
  10. (26 May 2024). "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024". FootyRankings.
  11. (15 May 2023). "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2022".
  12. Atsushi Fujioka. (19 May 2011). "United Arab Emirates – List of Champions". RSSSF.
  13. (18 June 2020). "PRESS STATEMANT".
  14. "لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ – سبورت 360 عربية".
  15. "100s". FootballUAE.net.
  16. "United Arab Emirates 1974/75".
  17. "الأبطال.. من الهواية إلى الاحتراف". AlBayan.ae.
  18. "Scorers 1980–2001". FootballUAE.net.
  19. "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
  20. "1983–84: Goals". Al Ittihad.
  21. "1984–91". Al Ittihad.
  22. "1991–92: Goals".
  23. "1993–94: Goals".
  24. "1995–96: Goals".
  25. "The Pro-League 4th edition launches today". AGLeague.
  26. "1999–00: Goals".
  27. "2000–01: Goals". GulfNews.com.
  28. "2000–01: Goals".
  29. "2001–02: Goals". GulfNews.
  30. "2002–03: Goals". GulfNews.
  31. "2003–04: Goals".
  32. "2004–05: Goals".
  33. "2005–06: Goals".
  34. "2007–08: Goals".
  35. "2009–10: Goals".
  36. "2010–11: Goals".
  37. "2011–12: Goals".
  38. "2012–13: Goals".
  39. "2013–14: Goals".
  40. "2014–15: Goals".
  41. "2015–16: Goals".
  42. "2016–17: Goals".
  43. "2017–18: Goals".
  44. "2018–19: Goals".
  45. "2019–20: Goals".
  46. "2020–21: Goals".
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