UAE Pro League
OrganiserPro League Committee
CountryUnited Arab Emirates (UAE FA)
ConfedAFC (Asia)
Founded1973 (age 53)
Teams14
RelegationFirst Division League
Levels1
Domest cupUAE President's Cup
UAE Super Cup
UAE FA Cup
League cupUAE League Cup
Confed cupAFC Champions League Elite
AFC Champions League Two
ChampionsAl Ain (15th title)
Season2025–26
Most successful clubAl Ain (15 titles)
TvAbu Dhabi Sports
Dubai Sports
Sharjah Sports
Majid Sports
Websiteuaeproleague.ae
Current2025–26 UAE Pro League season
Top scorerAli Mabkhout (226 goals)

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.

The first team to win the title was Al Orouba (Sharjah), whilst Al Ain has the record with 15 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]

RankingMember association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup)Club pointsTotal2025–26 Competition
2023–242022 [11]MvmtRegion2015 (×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 EliteACL TwoChallenge
11—W 1Saudi Arabia (L, C)15.2509.50018.60010.00026.35020.95019.07527.100103.1483+01+00
22—E 1Japan (L, C, LC)15.25010.50021.85013.85021.80017.87520.08821.35096.9993+01+00
33—E 2South Korea (L, C)16.75020.7509.95018.35013.60022.75015.80022.35093.6002+11+00
46+2W 2United Arab Emirates (L, C)25.00018.00011.3508.1007.63314.4008.08324.00073.3732+11+00

Clubs

Member clubs (2025–26)

Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
ClubHome cityStadiumCapacity
AjmanAjmanAjman Stadium
Al AinAl-AinHazza Bin Zayed Stadium
Al BataehAl BataehAl Bataeh Stadium
Al DhafraMadinat ZayedAl Dhafra Stadium
Al JaziraAbu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium
Al NasrDubai (Oud Metha)Al-Maktoum Stadium
Al WahdaAbu Dhabi (Al Nahyan)Al Nahyan Stadium
Al WaslDubai (Zabeel)Zabeel Stadium
BaniyasAbu Dhabi (Al Shamkha)Baniyas Stadium
Dibba Al FujairahDibba Al FujairahDibba New Stadium
KalbaKalbaIttihad Kalba Stadium
Khor FakkanKhor FakkanSaqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium
Shabab Al AhliDubai (Deira)Rashid Stadium
SharjahSharjahSharjah 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

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.NameClubAppointedTime in charge
Paulo SousaShabab Al-Ahli30 June 2024
Goran TufegdžićAjman1 July 2024
Vuk RašovićKalba1 July 2024
Farhad MajidiAl Bataeh13 January 2025
Vladimir IvićAl Ain4 February 2025
Slaviša JokanovićAl Nasr8 June 2025
José MoraisAl Wahda20 June 2025
Hassan Al AbdooliKhor Fakkan30 June 2025
Željko PetrovićAl Dhafra1 July 2025
Marino PušićAl Jazira9 September 2025
Daniel IsăilăBaniyas20 September 2025
Ciprian PanaitDibba28 October 2025
Mesut MeralAl Wasl5 November 2025
Abdulmajid Al NimerSharjah17 November 2025

List of champions

Source:[12]

yasNoSeasonChampionRunner up
 11973–74SharjahAl Ahli
 21974–75Al AhliSharjah
 31975–76Al Ain
 41976–77Al AinSharjah
 51977–78Al NasrAl Ain
 61978–79Sharjah
 71979–80Al AhliAl Shaab
 81980–81Al AinAl Nasr
 91981–82Al WaslAl Ain
 101982–83Sharjah
 111983–84Al AinAl Wasl
 121984–85Al WaslAl Shaab
 131985–86Al NasrAl Wasl
 141986–87Sharjah
 151987–88Al WaslSharjah
 161988–89SharjahAl Wasl
 171989–90Al Shabab
×1990–91Cancelled
 181991–92Al WaslSharjah
 191992–93Al AinAl Wasl
 201993–94SharjahAl Ain
 211994–95Al Shabab
 221995–96SharjahAl Wasl
 231996–97Al WaslAl Nasr
 241997–98Al AinSharjah
 251998–99Al WahdaAl Ain
 261999–00Al AinAl Nasr
 272000–01Al WahdaAl Ahli
 282001–02Al AinAl Jazira
 292002–03Al Wahda
 302003–04Al Shabab
 312004–05Al WahdaAl Ain
 322005–06Al AhliAl Wahda
 332006–07Al Wasl
 342007–08Al ShababAl Jazira
 352008–09Al Ahli
 362009–10Al Wahda
 372010–11Al JaziraBaniyas
 382011–12Al AinAl Nasr
 392012–13Al Ahli
 402013–14Al AhliAl Wahda
 412014–15Al AinAl Jazira
 422015–16Al AhliAl Ain
 432016–17Al JaziraAl Wasl
 442017–18Al AinAl Wahda
 452018–19SharjahShabab Al Ahli
×2019–20Cancelled
 462020–21Al JaziraBaniyas
 472021–22Al AinSharjah
 482022–23Shabab Al AhliAl Ain
 492023–24Al WaslShabab Al Ahli
 502024–25Shabab Al AhliSharjah
 512025–26Al AinShabab Al Ahli

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]

ClubWonRunners-upWinning seasons
Al Ain
15
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, 2025–26
Shabab Al Ahli
9
6
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
9
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 Shabab
3
1
1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08
Al Shaab
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 / AreaTitlesClubsWinning 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
15
Al Ain(15): 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, 2025–26
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

EmiratesTitlesClubsWinning 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
22
Al Ain(15): 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, 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]

RankNatNameClubYearsGoalsApps
1Ali MabkhoutAl Jazira Al Nasr2009–226313
2Sebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda Al Nasr Sharjah2013–2024184239
3Fahad KhameesAl Wasl1980–1997175
4Fábio LimaAl Wasl2014–170230
5Mohammad OmarAl Wasl Al Ain Al Jazira Al Dhafra Al Nasr Ajman1992–2011132
6Adnan Al TalyaniAl Shaab1980–1999131
7Abdulaziz MohamedSharjah1980–2003128
8Ahmed AbdullahAl Ain1978–1995122
9Youssouf Al-Atiq HassanAl Ahli1988–2002119
10Faisal KhalilAl Ahli Al Wasl Al Shaab1999–2013114302
11Kodjo Fo-Doh LabaAl-Ain2019–113119
12Makhete DiopAl Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah2011–2018, 2021–2023108180
13Asamoah GyanAl-Ain Al Ahli2011–201710197
14Ismail MatarAl Wahda2001–2024101418
15Anderson BarbosaSharjah Al Wasl2003–200999128
16Caio CanedoAl Ain Al Wasl2014–99218
17Ahmed KhalilAl Ain Shabab Al Ahli Al Bataeh2007–96273
18Ali ThaniSharjah|93
19Aissa SangourAl Shabab|88
20Zuhair BakheetAl Wasl|88
21Saeed Al-KassSharjah Al Wasl87
22Majid Al OwaisAl Ain|86
23Mohammed Salem Al-EnaziAl Wahda Al Wasl Al Jazira|83
24Boris Kabi82146
25Nasir KhameesAl Wasl|82
26Ibrahim DiakyAl Ain Al Jazira80
27Khalid IsmailAl Nasr|75
28Omar KhribinAl Wahda Al Dhafra Shabab Al Ahli|75117
29André Senghor73118
30Caio LucasAl Ain Sharjah73169

Top scorers by season

SeasonPlayerClubGoals
1973–74Saeed Hareb AlFalahiAl Ahli
1974–75[16]Suhail SalimAl Ahli14
1975–76[17]Ali Nawaz BalochEmirates13
1976–77[17]Alfadel SantoAl Nasr11
1977–78[17]Mohieddine HabitaAl Ain20
1978–79[17]Mostafa MahrousAl Ahli16
1979–80[17]Alo Ali MohamedEmirates14
1980–81[18]Karim Abdul Razak
1981–82[17]Ahmed AbdullahAl Ain13
1982–83[19]Luiz Carlos[17]Al Nasr12
1983–84[20]Ahmed Abdullah Fahad KhameesAl Ain Al Wasl20
1984–85[21]Fahad Khamees Adnan Al TalyaniAl Wasl Al Shaab14
1985–86[18][21]Mohammed SalemAl Wahda16
1986–87[18][21]Adnan Al Talyani Khalil GhanimAl Shaab Khor Fakkan13
1987–88[17]Zuhair BakheetAl Wasl24
1988–89[17]Fahad Khamees13
1989–90[21]Hussain YaslamBaniyas16
1990–91Cancelled
1991–92[22]Youssouf AtiqAl Ahli25
1992–93[17]Saif SultanAl Ain21
1993–94[18][23]Abdulaziz MohamedSharjah18
1994–95[18][17]Bader JassimAl Wahda10
1995–96[17][24]Jassim Al DokhiAl Shaab
1996–97[18][17]Bader JassimAl Wahda11
1997–98[17]Ali ThaniSharjah19
1998–99[25]Alboury LahAl Wahda29
1999–00[17][26]18
2000–01[27][28]Mohammed Al Enazi22
2001–02[27][29]
2002–03[30]Cristián MontecinosDubai19
2003–04[31]Ali KarimiAl Ahli14
2004–05[19][32]Valdir Anderson BarbosaAl Nasr Sharjah23
2005–06[33]Anderson BarbosaSharjah20
2006–07[17]Anderson Barbosa Ali SamerehAl Wasl Al Shaab18
2007–08[34]Faisal Khalil Anderson BarbosaAl Ahli Sharjah16
2008–09[17]Fernando BaianoAl Jazira24
2009–10[35]José SandAl Ain
2010–11[36]André SenghorBaniyas18
2011–12[37]Asamoah GyanAl Ain22
2012–13[38]31
2013–14[39]29
2014–15[40]Mirko VučinićAl Jazira25
2015–16[41]Sebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda
2016–17[42]Ali MabkhoutAl Jazira33
2017–18[43]Marcus BergAl Ain25
2018–19[44]Sebastián TagliabúeAl Wahda27
2019–20[45]Kodjo LabaAl Ain19
2020–21[46]Ali MabkhoutAl Jazira25
2021–22Kodjo LabaAl Ain26
2022–2328
2023–24Omar KhribinAl Wahda18
2024–25Kodjo LabaAl Ain20

Top scorers by country

CountryPlayersSeasons
United Arab Emirates1722
Brazil46
Ghana24
Argentina3
Senegal
Togo4
Iran11
Pakistan
Sudan
Tunisia
Chile
Montenegro
Sweden
Syria

Honours

Tournaments

Intercontinental

Continental

Regional

Summary

Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

CompetitionTotal
Club World Cup0101
Asian Champions League 12327
Asian Champions League 21102
Total35210

Individual

Intercontinental

Continental

References

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