 | |
| Organising body | Pro League Committee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973; 52 years ago (1973) |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Confederation | AFC |
| 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) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports Sharjah Sports Majid Sports |
| Website | uaeproleague |
| Current:2025–26 UAE Pro League season | |
TheUAE Pro League (Arabic:دوري المحترفين الإماراتي), also known as theADNOC Pro League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is a professionalassociation football league in theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) and the highest level of theEmirati football league system.
The first team to win the title wasAl Orouba (Sharjah), whilstAl Ain has the record with 14 league titles to their name. Fourteen clubs compete in the league that operates on a system ofpromotion and relegation with theFirst Division League.
The League was founded in 1973 as theUAE Football League. The first 1973–74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by theUAE FA in 2001.[2] In February 2007, thePro League Committee was formed, and became the organising body of the league.
Starting from the 2006–07 season the name was changed from UAE League toEtisalat League. And since the2013–14 season, the name was changed from Etisalat Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after theArabian Gulf as per the chairman ofPro League Committee.[3] However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of thePersian Gulf naming dispute[4] with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of bigotry,[5] and theIranian Football Federation barring the transfer ofJavad Nekounam to a UAE club.[6] After about four months of the name change a 70 millionAED 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 withADNOC worth 80 million AED, from the start of the2021–22 season, the league was renamed to the UAE's ADNOC Pro League.[1]
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 |
Prior to UAE League's transition to the professional era in 2008, many clubs have competed in the country's top tier division from1973–74 to2007–08. The below list is clubs that have competed in the UAE top-tier league since the Pro League era starting in2008–09.
Notes:
| 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 |
 | Leonardo Jardim | 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 |
 | Ibn Abdurahmen | Ittihad Kalba | 2 March 2024 | 51 days |
Source:[12]
Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due toGulf War
2.^ Competition cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates[13]
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 |
| 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 along with Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017
2.^ Al Shaab dissolved in 2017
| 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 |
| 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 |
Source:[15]
| Rank | Nat | Name | Club | Years | Goals | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Ali Mabkhout | Al Jazira Al Nasr | 2009– | 226 | 313 |
| 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– | 170 | 230 |
| 5 | | Mohammad Omar | Al Wasl Al Ain Al Jazira Al Dhafra Al Nasr Ajman | 1992–2011 | 132 | |
| 6 | | Adnan Al Talyani | Al Shaab | 1980–1999 | 131 | — |
| 7 | | Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 1980–2003 | 128 | — |
| 8 | | Ahmed Abdullah | Al Ain | 1978–1995 | 122 | — |
| 9 | | Youssouf Al-Atiq Hassan | Al Ahli | 1988–2002 | 119 | — |
| 10 | | Faisal Khalil | Al Ahli Al Wasl Al Shaab | 1999–2013 | 114 | 302 |
| 11 |  | Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba | Al-Ain | 2019– | 113 | 119 |
| 12 |  | Makhete Diop | Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah | 2011–2018, 2021–2023 | 108 | 180 |
| 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 | | Caio Canedo | Al Ain Al Wasl | 2014– | 99 | 218 |
| 17 | | Ahmed Khalil | Al Ain Shabab Al Ahli Al Bataeh | 2007– | 96 | 273 |
| 18 | | Ali Thani | Sharjah | — | 93 | — |
| 19 | | Aissa Sangour | Al Shabab | — | 88 | |
| 20 | | Zuhair Bakheet | Al Wasl | — | 88 | |
| 21 | | Saeed Al-Kass | Sharjah Al Wasl | — | 87 | — |
| 22 | | Majid Al Owais | Al Ain | — | 86 | — |
| 23 |  | Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al Wahda Al Wasl Al Jazira | — | 83 | — |
| 24 |  | Boris Kabi | — | 82 | 146 | |
| 25 | | Nasir Khamees | Al Wasl | — | 82 | — |
| 26 | | Ibrahim Diaky | Al Ain Al Jazira | — | 80 | — |
| 27 | | Khalid Ismail | Al Nasr | — | 75 | — |
| 28 |  | Omar Khribin | Al Wahda Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli | — | 75 | 117 |
| 29 | | André Senghor | — | 73 | 118 | |
| 30 | | Caio Lucas | Al Ain Sharjah | — | 73 | 169 |
| 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 AbdullahFahad Khamees | Al Ain Al Wasl | 20 |
| 1984–85[21] | Fahad KhameesAdnan Al Talyani | Al Wasl Al Shaab | 14 |
| 1985–86[18][21] | Mohammed Salem | Al Wahda | 16 |
| 1986–87[18][21] | Adnan Al TalyaniKhalil 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] | ValdirAnderson Barbosa | Al Nasr Sharjah | 23 |
| 2005–06[33] | Anderson Barbosa | Sharjah | 20 |
| 2006–07[17] | Anderson BarbosaAli Samereh | Al Wasl Al Shaab | 18 |
| 2007–08[34] | Faisal KhalilAnderson 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 |
| 2024–25 | Kodjo Laba | Al Ain | 20 |
| Country | Players | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 17 | 22 |
| Brazil | 4 | 6 |
| Ghana | 2 | 4 |
| Argentina | 3 | |
| Senegal | ||
| Togo | 4 | |
| Iran | 1 | 1 |
| Pakistan | 1 | |
| Sudan | ||
| Tunisia | ||
| Chile | ||
| Montenegro | ||
| Sweden | ||
| Syria |
| National teams | ||
|---|---|---|
| League system | ||
| Domestic cups |
| |
| International Competitions | ||