UAE Pro League
Top division in Emirati football
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The UAE Pro League (Arabic: دوري المحترفين الإماراتي), also known as the ADNOC Pro League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is a professional association football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the highest level of the Emirati soccer league system.
| |
| Organising body | Pro League Committee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Country | United Arab Emirates (UAE FA) |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | First Division League |
| Domestic cup(s) | UAE President's Cup UAE Super Cup UAE FA Cup |
| League cup | UAE League Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two |
| Current champions | Shabab Al Ahli Club (9th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Al Ain (14 titles) |
| Top scorer | Ali Mabkhout (226 goals) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports Sharjah Sports Majid Sports |
| Website | uaeproleague |
| Current: 2025–26 UAE Pro League season | |
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
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
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 | 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
Member clubs (2025–26)
- 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 Dhafra | Madinat Zayed | Al Dhafra Stadium | 5,020 |
| 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 |
| Dibba Al Fujairah | Dibba Al Fujairah | Dibba New Stadium | 9,000 |
| 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 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. | Name | Club | Appointed | Time in charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paulo Sousa | Shabab Al-Ahli | 30 June 2024 | 1 year, 304 days |
 |
Goran Tufegdžić | Ajman | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 303 days |
|
Vuk Rašović | Kalba | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 303 days |
 |
Farhad Majidi | Al Bataeh | 13 January 2025 | 1 year, 107 days |
|
Vladimir Ivić | Al Ain | 4 February 2025 | 1 year, 85 days |
|
Slaviša Jokanović | Al Nasr | 8 June 2025 | 326 days |
|
José Morais | Al Wahda | 20 June 2025 | 314 days |
|
Hassan Al Abdooli | Khor Fakkan | 30 June 2025 | 304 days |
 |
Željko Petrović | Al Dhafra | 1 July 2025 | 303 days |
 |
Marino Pušić | Al Jazira | 9 September 2025 | 233 days |
 |
Daniel Isăilă | Baniyas | 20 September 2025 | 222 days |
|
Ciprian Panait | Dibba | 28 October 2025 | 184 days |
 |
Mesut Meral | Al Wasl | 5 November 2025 | 176 days |
|
Abdulmajid Al Nimer | Sharjah | 17 November 2025 | 164 days |
List of champions
Source:[12]
Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due to Gulf War
2.^ Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates[13]
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.[14]
| Club | Won | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
Al Ain  |
14 |
9 |
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 |
9 |
4 |
1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2024–25 |
| Al Wasl |
8 |
8 |
1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24 |
| 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 and Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli to form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017.
2.^ Al Shaab folded in 2017.
Performance by city
| City / Area | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 23 |
Shabab 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 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
| Emirates | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 23 |
Shabab 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 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
All-time top scorers
Source:[15]
| Rank | Nat | Name | Club | Years | Goals | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira | 2009– | 226 | 313 |
| 2 | |
Sebastián Tagliabúe | Al Wahda | 2013–2024 | 184 | 239 |
| 3 | |
Fahad Khamees | Al Wasl | 1980–1997 | 175 | N/a |
| 4 | |
Fábio Lima | Al Wasl | 2014– | 170 | 230 |
| 5 | |
Mohammad Omar | Al Wasl | 1992–2011 | 132 | |
| 6 | |
Adnan Al Talyani | Al Shaab | 1980–1999 | 131 | N/a |
| 7 | |
Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 1980–2003 | 128 | N/a |
| 8 | |
Ahmed Abdullah | Al Ain | 1978–1995 | 122 | N/a |
| 9 | |
Youssouf Al-Atiq Hassan | Al Ahli | 1988–2002 | 119 | N/a |
| 10 | |
Faisal Khalil | Al Ahli | 1999–2013 | 114 | 302 |
| 11 |  |
Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba | Al-Ain | 2019– | 113 | 119 |
| 12 |  |
Makhete Diop | Al Dhafra | 2011–2018, 2021–2023 | 108 | 180 |
| 13 |  |
Asamoah Gyan | Al-Ain | 2011–2017 | 101 | 97 |
| 14 | |
Ismail Matar | Al Wahda | 2001–2024 | 101 | 418 |
| 15 |  |
Anderson Barbosa | Sharjah | 2003–2009 | 99 | 128 |
| 16 | |
Caio Canedo | Al Ain | 2014– | 99 | 218 |
| 17 | |
Ahmed Khalil | Al Ain | 2007– | 96 | 273 |
| 18 | |
Ali Thani | Sharjah|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 93 | N/a | |
| 19 | |
Aissa Sangour | Al Shabab|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 88 | ||
| 20 | |
Zuhair Bakheet | Al Wasl|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 88 | ||
| 21 | |
Saeed Al-Kass | Sharjah | N/a | 87 | N/a |
| 22 | |
Majid Al Owais | Al Ain|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 86 | N/a | |
| 23 |  |
Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al Wahda
Al Wasl Al Jazira|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a |
83 | N/a | |
| 24 |  |
Boris Kabi | data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 82 | 146 | |
| 25 | |
Nasir Khamees | Al Wasl|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 82 | N/a | |
| 26 | |
Ibrahim Diaky | Al Ain | N/a | 80 | N/a |
| 27 | |
Khalid Ismail | Al Nasr|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 75 | N/a | |
| 28 |  |
Omar Khribin | Al Wahda
Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli|data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a |
75 | 117 | |
| 29 | |
André Senghor | data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/a | 73 | 118 | |
| 30 | |
Caio Lucas | Al Ain | N/a | 73 | 169 |
Top scorers by season
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Saeed Hareb AlFalahi |
Al Ahli | |
| 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
|
Al Ain | 20 |
| 1984–85[21] | Fahad Khamees
|
Al Wasl | 14 |
| 1985–86[18][21] | Mohammed Salem |
Al Wahda | 16 |
| 1986–87[18][21] | Adnan Al Talyani
|
Al Shaab | 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
|
Al Nasr | 23 |
| 2005–06[33] | Anderson Barbosa |
Sharjah | 20 |
| 2006–07[17] | Anderson Barbosa
|
Al Wasl | 18 |
| 2007–08[34] | Faisal Khalil
|
Al Ahli | 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 |
| 2024–25 | Kodjo Laba |
Al Ain | 20 |
Top scorers by country
| Country | Players | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates |
17 | 22 |
| Brazil |
4 | 6 |
| Ghana |
2 | 4 |
| Argentina |
3 | |
| Senegal | ||
| Togo |
4 | |
| Iran |
1 | 1 |
| Pakistan | ||
| Sudan | ||
| Tunisia | ||
| Chile | ||
| Montenegro | ||
| Sweden | ||
| Syria |
Honours
Tournaments
Intercontinental
Continental
- Asian Champions League 1 (35 appearances): 1985-86, 1990-91, 1991, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023-24, 2024-25
- Asian Champions League 2 (13 appearances): 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2024-25
Regional
- Arabian Gulf Champions League (32 appearances): 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024-25
Champions (8): 1992 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2001 (Al Ain), 2007 (Al Jazira), 2009 (Al Wasl), 2011 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2013 (Baniyas), 2014 (Al Nasr), 2015 (Shabab Al Ahli)
Runners-up (4): 1993 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2005 (Al Wasl), 2011 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2012 (Al Wasl)
- Qatar Challenge Cup (6 appearances): 2024, 2025
- Champions (5): 2024 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2025 (Al Wahda, Al Nasr, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Wasl)
- Runners-up (1): 2024 (Sharjah)
Summary
Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).
| Competition |  |
 |
 |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club World Cup | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Asian Champions League 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Asian Champions League 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
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)