 | |
| Organising body | Pro League Committee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973; 53 years ago (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 | |
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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Paulo Sousa | Shabab Al-Ahli | 30 June 2024 | 1 year, 228 days |
 | Goran Tufegdžić | Ajman | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 227 days |
| Vuk Rašović | Kalba | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 227 days |
 | Farhad Majidi | Al Bataeh | 13 January 2025 | 1 year, 31 days |
| Vladimir Ivić | Al Ain | 4 February 2025 | 1 year, 9 days |
| Slaviša Jokanović | Al Nasr | 8 June 2025 | 250 days |
| José Morais | Al Wahda | 20 June 2025 | 238 days |
| Hassan Al Abdooli | Khor Fakkan | 30 June 2025 | 228 days |
 | Željko Petrović | Al Dhafra | 1 July 2025 | 227 days |
 | Marino Pušić | Al Jazira | 9 September 2025 | 157 days |
 | Daniel Isăilă | Baniyas | 20 September 2025 | 146 days |
| Ciprian Panait | Dibba | 28 October 2025 | 108 days |
 | Mesut Meral | Al Wasl | 5 November 2025 | 100 days |
| Abdulmajid Al Nimer | Sharjah | 17 November 2025 | 88 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 | 1976–77,1980–81,1983–84,1992–93,1997–98,1999–2000,2001–02,2002–03,2003–04,2011–12,2012–13,2014–15,2017–18,2021–22 |
| 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.
| 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 | 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="" |N/a | 93 | N/a | |
| 19 | | Aissa Sangour | Al Shabab|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 88 | ||
| 20 | | Zuhair Bakheet | Al Wasl|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 88 | ||
| 21 | | Saeed Al-Kass | Sharjah | N/a | 87 | N/a |
| 22 | | Majid Al Owais | Al Ain|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 86 | N/a | |
| 23 |  | Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al Wahda | 83 | N/a | |
| 24 |  | Boris Kabi | data-sort-value="" |N/a | 82 | 146 | |
| 25 | | Nasir Khamees | Al Wasl|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 82 | N/a | |
| 26 | | Ibrahim Diaky | Al Ain | N/a | 80 | N/a |
| 27 | | Khalid Ismail | Al Nasr|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 75 | N/a | |
| 28 |  | Omar Khribin | Al Wahda Al DhafraShabab Al Ahli|data-sort-value="" |N/a | 75 | 117 | |
| 29 | | André Senghor | data-sort-value="" |N/a | 73 | 118 | |
| 30 | | Caio Lucas | Al Ain | N/a | 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 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 |
| 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 |
Champions (1): 2025 (Al Ain)Champions (2): 2015 (Al Ain), 2016 (Shabab Al Ahli)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)Champions (5): 2024 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2025 (Al Wahda,Al Nasr,Shabab Al Ahli,Al Wasl) Runners-up (1): 2024 (Sharjah)Only official honours are included, according toFIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized byFIFA 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 |
Third place (1): 1990 (Adnan Al-Talyani —Sharjah)Winner (3): 2004 (Ali Karimi —Shabab Al Ahli), 2015 (Ahmed Khalil —Shabab Al Ahli), 2016 (Omar Abdulrahman —Al Ain)| National teams | ||
|---|---|---|
| League system | ||
| Domestic cups |
| |
| International Competitions | ||