UAE Pro League explained

The UAE Pro League (ar|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 football league system.

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.

Ranking

See main article: AFC Club Competitions Ranking. As of 26 May 2024^[10]

Ranking				Member association	Club points								Total	2025–26 Competition
2023–24	2022[11]	data-sort-type="number"				2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022		2023–24	ACL Elite	ACL Two	Challenge
1	1	—	W 1		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		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		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		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
Al Ain	Al-Ain	Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium
Al Bataeh	Al Bataeh	Al Bataeh Stadium
Al Dhafra	Madinat Zayed	Al Dhafra Stadium
Al Jazira	Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)	Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium
Al Nasr	Dubai (Oud Metha)	Al-Maktoum Stadium
Al Wahda	Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)	Al Nahyan Stadium
Al Wasl	Dubai (Zabeel)	Zabeel Stadium
Baniyas	Abu Dhabi (Al Shamkha)	Baniyas Stadium
Dibba Al Fujairah	Dibba Al Fujairah	Dibba New Stadium
Kalba	Kalba	Ittihad Kalba Stadium
Khor Fakkan	Khor Fakkan	Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium
Shabab Al Ahli	Dubai (Deira)	Rashid Stadium
Sharjah	Sharjah	Sharjah 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.	Name	Club	Appointed	Time in charge
	Paulo Sousa	Shabab Al-Ahli
	Goran Tufegdžić	Ajman
	Vuk Rašović	Kalba
	Farhad Majidi	Al Bataeh
	Vladimir Ivić	Al Ain
	Slaviša Jokanović	Al Nasr
	José Morais	Al Wahda
	Hassan Al Abdooli	Khor Fakkan
	Željko Petrović	Al Dhafra
	Marino Pušić	Al Jazira
	Daniel Isăilă	Baniyas
	Ciprian Panait	Dibba
	Mesut Meral	Al Wasl
	Abdulmajid Al Nimer	Sharjah

List of champions

Source:^[12]

yas No Season Champion Runner up   1 1973–74 Sharjah Al Ahli   2 1974–75 Al Ahli Sharjah   3 1975–76 Al Ain   4 1976–77 Al Ain Sharjah   5 1977–78 Al Nasr Al Ain   6 1978–79 Sharjah   7 1979–80 Al Ahli Al Shaab   8 1980–81 Al Ain Al Nasr   9 1981–82 Al Wasl Al Ain   10 1982–83 Sharjah   11 1983–84 Al Ain Al Wasl   12 1984–85 Al Wasl Al Shaab   13 1985–86 Al Nasr Al Wasl   14 1986–87 Sharjah   15 1987–88 Al Wasl Sjarjah   16 1988–89 Sharjah Al Wasl   17 1989–90 Al Shabab × 1990–91 Cancelled   18 1991–92 Al Wasl Sharjah   19 1992–93 Al Ain Al Wasl   20 1993–94 Sharjah Al Ain   21 1994–95 Al Shabab   22 1995–96 Sharjah Al Wasl   23 1996–97 Al Wasl Al Nasr   24 1997–98 Al Ain Sharjah   25 1998–99 Al Wahda Al Ain   26 1999–2000 Al Ain Al Nasr   27 2000–01 Al Wahda Al Ahli   28 2001–02 Al Ain Al Jazira   29 2002–03 Al Wahda   30 2003–04 Al Shabab   31 2004–05 Al Wahda Al Ain   32 2005–06 Al Ahli Al Wahda   33 2006–07 Al Wasl   34 2007–08 Al Shabab Al Jazira   35 2008–09 Al Ahli   36 2009–10 Al Wahda   37 2010–11 Al Jazira Baniyas   38 2011–12 Al Ain Al Nasr   39 2012–13 Al Ahli   40 2013–14 Al Ahli Al Wahda   41 2014–15 Al Ain Al Jazira   42 2015–16 Al Ahli Al Ain   43 2016–17 Al Jazira Al Wasl   44 2017–18 Al Ain Al Wahda   45 2018–19 Sharjah Shabab Al Ahli × 2019–20 Cancelled   46 2020–21 Al Jazira Baniyas   47 2021–22 Al Ain Sharjah   48 2022–23 Shabab Al Ahli Al Ain   49 2023–24 Al Wasl Shabab Al Ahli   50 2024–25 Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah

_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			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			1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2024–25
Al Wasl			1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2023–24
Sharjah			1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19
Al Wahda			1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira			2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21
Al Nasr			1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Shabab			1989–90, 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 / Area	Titles	Clubs	Winning seasons
Dubai		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		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		Al Wahda	(4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
		Al Jazira	(3): 2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21
Sharjah		Sharjah	(6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

Performance by emirates

Emirates	Titles	Clubs	Winning seasons
Dubai		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		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		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 JaziraAl Nasr	2009–	226	313
2		Sebastián Tagliabúe	Al WahdaAl NasrSharjah	2013–2024	184	239
3		Fahad Khamees	Al Wasl	1980–1997	175
4		Fábio Lima	Al Wasl	2014–	170	230
5		Mohammad Omar	Al WaslAl AinAl JaziraAl DhafraAl NasrAjman	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 AhliAl WaslAl Shaab	1999–2013	114	302
11		Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba	Al-Ain	2019–	113	119
12		Makhete Diop	Al DhafraShabab Al AhliSharjah	2011–2018, 2021–2023	108	180
13		Asamoah Gyan	Al-AinAl Ahli	2011–2017	101	97
14		Ismail Matar	Al Wahda	2001–2024	101	418
15		Anderson Barbosa	SharjahAl Wasl	2003–2009	99	128
16		Caio Canedo	Al AinAl Wasl	2014–	99	218
17		Ahmed Khalil	Al AinShabab Al AhliAl 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	SharjahAl Wasl		87
22		Majid Al Owais	Al Ain		86
23		Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi	Al WahdaAl WaslAl Jazira		83
24		Boris Kabi		82	146
25		Nasir Khamees	Al Wasl		82
26		Ibrahim Diaky	Al AinAl Jazira		80
27		Khalid Ismail	Al Nasr		75
28		Omar Khribin	Al WahdaAl DhafraShabab Al Ahli		75	117
29		André Senghor		73	118
30		Caio Lucas	Al AinSharjah		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	Alfadel Santo	Al Nasr	11
1977–78	Mohieddine Habita	Al Ain	20
1978–79	Mostafa Mahrous	Al Ahli	16
1979–80	Alo Ali Mohamed	Emirates	14
1980–81[18]	Karim Abdul Razak
1981–82	Ahmed Abdullah	Al Ain	13
1982–83[19]	Luiz Carlos	Al Nasr	12
1983–84[20]	Ahmed Abdullah Fahad Khamees	Al AinAl Wasl	20
1984–85[21]	Fahad Khamees Adnan Al Talyani	Al WaslAl Shaab	14
1985–86	Mohammed Salem	Al Wahda	16
1986–87	Adnan Al Talyani Khalil Ghanim	Al ShaabKhor Fakkan	13
1987–88	Zuhair Bakheet	Al Wasl	24
1988–89	Fahad Khamees		13
1989–90	Hussain Yaslam	Baniyas	16
1990–91	Cancelled
1991–92[22]	Youssouf Atiq	Al Ahli	25
1992–93	Saif Sultan	Al Ain	21
1993–94[23]	Abdulaziz Mohamed	Sharjah	18
1994–95	Bader Jassim	Al Wahda	10
1995–96[24]	Jassim Al Dokhi	Al Shaab
1996–97	Bader Jassim	Al Wahda	11
1997–98	Ali Thani	Sharjah	19
1998–99[25]	Alboury Lah	Al Wahda	29
1999–00[26]			18
2000–01[27] [28]	Mohammed Al Enazi		22
2001–02[29]
2002–03[30]	Cristián Montecinos	Dubai	19
2003–04[31]	Ali Karimi	Al Ahli	14
2004–05[32]	Valdir Anderson Barbosa	Al NasrSharjah	23
2005–06[33]	Anderson Barbosa	Sharjah	20
2006–07	Anderson Barbosa Ali Samereh	Al WaslAl Shaab	18
2007–08[34]	Faisal Khalil Anderson Barbosa	Al AhliSharjah	16
2008–09	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
	17	22
	4	6
	2	4
		3
		4
	1	1

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

• 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
  • Champions (2): 2002-03 (Al Ain), 2023-24 (Al Ain)
  • Runners-up (3): 2005 (Al Ain), 2015 (Shabab Al Ahli), 2016 (Al Ain)
  • Third Place (2): 1992-93 (Al Wasl), 1998-99 (Al Ain)
• 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
  • Champions (1): 2024-25 (Sharjah)
  • Runners-up (1): 1994-95 (Sharjah)

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)

Notes and References

1. Web site: ADNOC and UAE Pro League announce title partnership . 8 August 2021 . WAM.
2. Web site: 1973/74 UAE Football League . 25 July 2013.
3. Web site: 26 May 2013 . New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi . Pro League Committee.
4. Web site: James M. Dorsey . 29 July 2013 . Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE to the football pitch . Hürriyet Daily News.
5. Web site: Category: Asia . 29 May 2013 . Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Persian Gulf League . Inside World Football.
6. Web site: 21 July 2013 . Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name . Fox News.
7. Web site: Studios . XS . Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League – News – UAE Pro League Committee . 16 January 2018 . www.uaeproleague.ae.
8. Web site: Studios . XS . Arabian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship – News – UAE Pro League Committee . 19 August 2019 . agleague.ae.
9. Web site: 2 April 2014 . Arabian Gulf Development takes UAE League Cup title spot . SportBusiness Sponsorship.
10. Web site: 26 May 2024 . AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024 . 26 May 2024 . FootyRankings.
11. Web site: 15 May 2023 . AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107182849/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_ranking.html/ . 7 January 2022 . 15 May 2023 . www.the-afc.com . en.
12. Web site: Atsushi Fujioka . 19 May 2011 . United Arab Emirates – List of Champions . 14 February 2012 . UAE FA website . RSSSF.
13. Web site: 18 June 2020 . PRESS STATEMANT . https://web.archive.org/web/20200621165534/https://www.uaeproleague.ae/en/news/extraordinary-general-assembly-decisions-18062020.html . 21 June 2020.
14. Web site: لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ – سبورت 360 عربية . arabic.sport360.com.
15. Web site: 100s . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020625214147/http://www.footballuae.net/league/100s.html . 25 June 2002 . 17 July 2014 . FootballUAE.net.
16. Web site: United Arab Emirates 1974/75 . RSSSF.
17. Web site: الأبطال.. من الهواية إلى الاحتراف . AlBayan.ae . ar.
18. Web site: Scorers 1980–2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20011216120102/http://www.footballuae.net/league/scorers2.html . 16 December 2001 . 23 July 2014 . FootballUAE.net . ar.
19. Web site: Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE . GulfNews.com.
20. Web site: 1983–84: Goals . Al Ittihad . ar.
21. Web site: 1984–91 . Al Ittihad . ar.
22. Web site: 1991–92: Goals . RSSSF.
23. Web site: 1993–94: Goals . RSSSF.
24. Web site: 1995–96: Goals . RSSSF.
25. Web site: The Pro-League 4th edition launches today . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201133436/http://web.agleague.ae/en/news/the-pro-league-4th-edition-launches-today.html . 1 February 2016 . 28 June 2014 . AGLeague.
26. Web site: 1999–00: Goals . RSSSF.
27. Web site: 2000–01: Goals . GulfNews.com.
28. Web site: 2000–01: Goals . RSSSF.
29. Web site: 2001–02: Goals . GulfNews.
30. Web site: 2002–03: Goals . GulfNews.
31. Web site: 2003–04: Goals . RSSSF.
32. Web site: 2004–05: Goals . Goalzz.
33. Web site: 2005–06: Goals . Goalzz.
34. Web site: 2007–08: Goals . Goalzz.
35. Web site: 2009–10: Goals . Soccerway.
36. Web site: 2010–11: Goals . Soccerway.
37. Web site: 2011–12: Goals . Soccerway.
38. Web site: 2012–13: Goals . Soccerway.
39. Web site: 2013–14: Goals . Soccerway.
40. Web site: 2014–15: Goals . Soccerway.
41. Web site: 2015–16: Goals . Soccerway.
42. Web site: 2016–17: Goals . Soccerway.
43. Web site: 2017–18: Goals . Soccerway.
44. Web site: 2018–19: Goals . Soccerway.
45. Web site: 2019–20: Goals . Soccerway.
46. Web site: 2020–21: Goals . Soccerway.