Saudi Pro League

Early history (1957–2022)

The origins of the Saudi top division date back to the establishment of the His Majesty's League in 1957, which continued until 1974. It was followed by the 1974–75 Saudi Categorization League, a transitional season before the introduction of the Saudi Premier League. The first official season of the Saudi Premier League was the 1976–77 season.

The league used a round-robin tournament format from its first season until the 1989–90 season. Following changes by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the league was merged with the King's Cup and the Golden Box format was introduced. The format included a final knockout stage involving the top four teams from the regular season to decide the champion.

The round-robin format returned in the 2007–08 season. The competition was renamed the Saudi Pro League in 2008, while records from previous league formats continued to be maintained separately.

The league has used several names throughout its history. For the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, it was named the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League in honour of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.^[1]

In 2019, the General Sports Authority (later transformed into the Ministry of Sport) launched the Sports Clubs Support Strategy to improve governance, infrastructure, and fan engagement within Saudi clubs.^[2]

In 2022, Roshn, owned by the Public Investment Fund, signed a title sponsorship agreement with the league. The competition was renamed the Roshn Saudi League from the 2022–23 season.^[3]

Saudi Pro League expansion (2023–present)

In June 2023, the Public Investment Fund acquired 75% stakes in Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli as part of wider development plans linked to Saudi Vision 2030.^[4][5][6]

The league attracted global attention in 2023 after Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr. Other international players, including Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, and N'Golo Kanté, later joined Saudi clubs during the same period.^[7][8]

The privatization process continued with several clubs changing ownership. In 2025, Al-Kholood became the first Saudi football club to be fully owned by foreign investors after being sold to The Harburg Group, led by American businessman Ben Harburg.^[9]

The league's development has received international attention and criticism. Some observers have described the investments as sportswashing, while Saudi officials have presented the reforms as part of sports development and economic diversification plans.^[10]

Competition

As of the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League

There are 18 clubs in the Saudi Pro League. During the course of a season (usually from August to May), each club plays every other club twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at their opponent's, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked on the league table based on points first, then head-to-head record in case of a tie, followed by goal difference.

Each club is allowed a maximum of 25 players, including up to 10 foreign players. Of these 10 foreign players, 8 can be of any age, and 2 must be under 20 years old at the time of signing. The remaining 15 players must be Saudi nationals, with a maximum of 5 players allowed to come from the youth sector if needed or wanted.

For each league game, managers can select up to 8 foreign players to be included in the matchday squad.

Promotion and relegation

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Saudi Pro League and Saudi First Division League. The three lowest-placed teams in the Saudi Pro League are relegated to the First Division, in the first division the top two teams are promoted to the Pro League directly, a play-off system^[15] to determine the third team to be promoted alongside the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position take part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team.

Stadium

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

Personnel and kits

More information Team, Manager ...

Team	Manager	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Main sponsor	Other sponsors
Al-Ahli	Matthias Jaissle	Édouard Mendy	Adidas	Red Sea Global	List Front: Saudi Investment Recycling Company, Neoleap Back: Kayanee, Cenomi Sleeves: None Shorts: None
Al-Ettifaq	Saad Al-Shehri	Georginio Wijnaldum	Adidas	Kammelna	List Front: Aldyar Alarabiya, Hongqi, Tameeni Insurance Back: Procare Riaya Hospital, Innosoft, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Sleeves: Saudi Qaid Transport Company, Direct KSA Shorts: None
Al-Fateh	José Gomes	Mohammed Al-Fuhaid	100°	Theeb Rent A Car	List Front: Riyad Bank, Fuchsia Bakery, Tameeni Insurance Back: Tamweel Aloula Sleeves: Ratio Speciality Coffee Shorts: None
Al-Fayha	Pedro Emanuel	Sami Al-Khaibari	HH Sports	Basic Electronics Company	List Front: Tameeni Insurance Back: Al Romaih Investment Sleeves: Morabaha Marina Financing Company Shorts: None
Al-Hazem	Jalel Kadri	Abdulrahman Al-Dakheel	Right Away Sport	Yelo
Al-Hilal	Simone Inzaghi	Salem Al-Dawsari	Puma	Savvy Games Group	List Front: Jahez, Flynas Back: Riyad Bank, Saudi Entertainment Ventures Sleeves: Tree Digital Insurance Agency, Sanabil Investments Shorts: None
Al-Ittihad	Sérgio Conceição	Karim Benzema	Nike	Roshn	List Front: SURJ Sports Investment, Volkswagen, Flow Progressive Logistics Back: Milaf Al Madinah Heritage Sleeves: None Shorts: None
Al-Khaleej	Georgios Donis	Fábio Martins	Laser	Yelo Rent a Car	List Front: Fisher Electronics, Tameeni Insurance, Almana Hospital Back: Shemagh Al Bassam, Florina Shoes, Candy Sleeves: Locate Food Delivery App, Saudi Qaid Transport Company Shorts: Sayyar
Al-Kholood	Des Buckingham	Marcelo Grohe	Renown	Yelo Rent a Car	List Front: Tameeni Insurance Back: Mezaj Maghribhi, Florina Shoes, Elba Cookers Sleeves: Saudi Qaid Transport Company Shorts: None
Al-Najma	Mário Silva	Ziyad Al-Qahtani	Puma	Yelo	List Front: Shahad, Wooden Coffee Back: Sunchine Cars Showroom, Ramz Tea Sleeves: Al Qassim National Hospital Shorts: Raz Amwal
Al-Nassr	Jorge Jesus	Cristiano Ronaldo	Adidas	KAFD	List Front: Syndicate Holding Group, AROYA Cruises, Gathern Back: None Sleeves: Noug, DAZN Shorts: None
Al-Okhdood	Paulo Sérgio	Hussain Al-Zabdani	Skillano	Yelo Rent a Car	List Front: Tameeni Insurance Back: Mezaj Maghribhi Sleeves: Saudi Qaid Transport Company Shorts: None
Al-Qadsiah	Brendan Rodgers	Nacho	Nike	Aloula Aviation	List Front: Almajdouie Genesis, Almana Hospital Back: iz, Zoho Corporation, Sixt Sleeves: Saudi Geophysical Shorts: Batook Nova
Al-Riyadh	Javier Calleja	Abdullah Al-Khaibri	Black Panther	Science Technology	List Front: Tameeni Insurance Back: Stars Smile Sleeves: None Shorts: None
Al-Shabab	Imanol Alguacil	Yannick Carrasco	Offside	Theeb Rent A Car	List Front: Tameeni Insurance Back: None Sleeves: None Shorts: None
Al-Taawoun	Péricles Chamusca	Aschraf El Mahdioui	Macron	Aldyar Alarabiya	List Front: Gree Electric, Dr Tooth Clinics Back: Al Dahayan Aluminum Panel Factory, Al Saif Trading Agencies Sleeves: Direct KSA, Duvet Mattresses Shorts: None
Damac	Armando Evangelista	Farouk Chafaï	Skillano	Basic Electronics Company	List Front: Osoul Poultry, Tameeni Insurance Back: Tadawi Clinic Sleeves: Saudi Qaid Transport Company, Lateen Water Shorts: None
Neom	Christophe Galtier	Salman Al-Faraj	Puma	None	List Front: None Back: None Sleeves: None Shorts: None

Close

List of champions

Sources:^[17][18][19]

Titles by club

Titles by city

Titles by competition era

All-time top scorers

As of the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League^[20][21]

• Bold indicates a player still active in the Pro League.
• Note: This count includes only seasons from the inception of the Saudi Categorization League to the present day.

More information Rank, Player ...

Rank	Player	Goals	Apps	Ratio	First	Last	Club(s)
1	Majed Abdullah	189	194	0.97	1977	1997	Al-Nassr
2	Nasser Al-Shamrani	167	301	0.55	2003	2019	Al-Wehda, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad
3	Omar Al Somah	161	222	0.73	2014	2026	Al-Ahli, Al-Orobah, Al-Hazem
4	Abderrazak Hamdallah	157	179	0.88	2018	2026	Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun
5	Fahd Al-Hamdan	120	252	0.48	1984	2000	Al-Riyadh
6	Yasser Al-Qahtani	112	206	0.54	2000	2018	Al-Qadsiah, Al-Hilal
7	Mohammad Al-Sahlawi	111	257	0.43	2005	2022	Al-Qadsiah, Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun
8	Cristiano Ronaldo	102	107	0.95	2023	2026	Al-Nassr
9	Sami Al-Jaber	101	268	0.38	1988	2007	Al-Hilal
10	Hamzah Idris	96	–	–	1992	2007	Ohod, Al-Ittihad

Close

Top scorers by season

Season	Nat.	Top scorer(s)	Club(s)	Goals
1974–75		Mohammad S. Abdeli	Al-Nassr	13
1976–77		Nasser Eid	Al-Qadsiah	7
1977–78		Motamad Khojali	Al-Ahli	14
1978–79		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	18
1979–80		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	17
1980–81		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	21
1981–82		Khalid Al-Ma'ajil	Al-Shabab	22
1982–83		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	14
1983–84		Hussam Abu Dawood	Al-Ahli	14
1984–85		Hathal Al-Dosari	Al-Hilal	15
1985–86		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	15
1986–87		Mohammad Suwaidi	Al-Ittihad	17
1987–88		Khalid Al-Ma'ajil	Al-Shabab	12
1988–89		Majed Abdullah	Al-Nassr	19
1989–90		Sami Al-Jaber	Al-Hilal	16
1990–91		Fahd Al-Mehallel	Al-Shabab	20
1991–92		Saeed Al-Owairan	Al-Shabab	16
1992–93		Sami Al-Jaber	Al-Hilal	18
1993–94		Moussa N'Daw	Al-Hilal	15
1994–95		Fahd Al-Hamdan	Al-Riyadh	15
1995–96		Ohene Kennedy	Al-Nassr	14
1996–97		Ahmed Bahja	Al-Ittihad	21
1997–98		Sulaiman Al-Hadaithy	Al-Najma	15
1998–99		Obeid Al-Dosari	Al-Wehda	20
1999–00		Hamzah Idris	Al-Ittihad	33
2000–01		Paulo Silva	Al-Ettifaq	13
2001–02		Sérgio Ricardo	Al-Ittihad	16
2002–03		Carlos Tenorio	Al-Nassr	15
2003–04		Godwin Attram Kandia Traoré	Al-Shabab Al-Hilal	15
2004–05		Mohammed Manga	Al-Shabab	15
2005–06		Essa Al-Mehyani	Al-Wehda	16
2006–07		Godwin Attram	Al-Shabab	13
2007–08		Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Shabab	18
2008–09		Hicham Aboucherouane Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Ittihad Al-Shabab	12
2009–10		Mohammad Al-Shalhoub	Al-Hilal	12
2010–11		Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Shabab	17
2011–12		Victor Simões Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Ahli Al-Shabab	21
2012–13		Sebastián Tagliabúe	Al-Shabab	19
2013–14		Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Hilal	21
2014–15		Omar Al Somah	Al-Ahli	22
2015–16		Omar Al Somah	Al-Ahli	27
2016–17		Omar Al Somah	Al-Ahli	24
2017–18		Ronnie Fernández	Al-Fayha	13
2018–19		Abderrazak Hamdallah	Al-Nassr	34
2019–20		Abderrazak Hamdallah	Al-Nassr	29
2020–21		Bafétimbi Gomis	Al-Hilal	24
2021–22		Odion Ighalo	Al-Hilal	24
2022–23		Abderrazak Hamdallah	Al-Ittihad	21
2023–24		Cristiano Ronaldo	Al-Nassr	35
2024–25		Cristiano Ronaldo	Al-Nassr	25
2025–26		Julián Quiñones	Al-Qadsiah	33

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