UAE Pro League

The UAE Pro League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Arabian Gulf League,[1][2] is the top professional football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first team to win the title was Al Orouba (Sharjah), whilst Al Ain has the record with 13 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.

UAE Pro League
Organising bodyPro League Committee
Founded1973 (1973)
CountryUnited Arab Emirates
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFirst Division League
Domestic cup(s)UAE President's Cup
UAE Super Cup
League cup(s)UAE League Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsSharjah (6th title)
(2018–19)
Most championshipsAl Ain (13 titles)
TV partnersAbu Dhabi Sports
Dubai Sports
Sharjah Sports
Websiteuaeproleague.ae
Current: 2020–21 season

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.[3] In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed, and became the organising body of the League.

Name change

Starting from the 2013–14 season the name was changed from UAE Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf as per the chairman of Pro League Committee.[4] However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute[5] with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of bigotry,[6] and the Iranian Football Federation barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club.[7] 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.[8]

Ranking
Main article: AFC Club Competitions Ranking

Ranking

As of 29 November 2019[9]

Ranking Member Association Club Points Points
2019 2018Mvmt 2016 2017 2018 2019 Points
5 3 -2 South Korea 20.750 9.950 18.350 13.600 62.650 85.430
6 4 -2 Iran 13.000 16.200 18.850 11.500 59.550 81.724
7 7 — United Arab Emirates 18.000 11.350 8.100 7.633 45.083 61.870
8 8 — Thailand 1.000 15.050 16.200 5.050 37.300 51.189
9 9 — Iraq 9.833 8.933 8.633 8.300 35.700 48.993

Clubs

Member clubs (2020–21)
Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Club Home city Stadium Capacity
Ajman Ajman City Ajman Stadium 5,537
Al Ain Al-Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium 22,965
Al Dhafra Madinat Zayed Al Dhafra Stadium 5,020
Al Jazira Abu Dhabi City (Al Nahyan) Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium 42,056
Al Nasr Dubai City (Al Nasr) Al-Maktoum Stadium 15,058
Al Wahda Abu Dhabi City (Al Nahyan) Al Nahyan Stadium 12,201
Al Wasl Dubai City (Zabeel) Zabeel Stadium 8,439
Baniyas Abu Dhabi City (Al Shamkha) Baniyas Stadium 10,000
Hatta Hatta Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium 5,000
Fujairah Fujairah City Fujairah Club Stadium 10,645
Kalba Kalba Ittihad Kalba Stadium 8,500
Khor Fakkan Khor Fakkan Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium 7,500
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai City (Deira) Rashid Stadium 12,052
Sharjah Sharjah City 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

Notes:

  • Italtics indicates that the club no longer exists
  • Bold indicates that the club is still competing in the UAE Pro League as of 2020–21

Managers
Nat. Name Club Appointed Time in charge
Ayman ElramadyAjman3 June 20164 years, 247 days
Abdulaziz MohamedSharjah15 October 20173 years, 113 days
Jorge Da SilvaKalba12 October 20191 year, 116 days
Marcel KeizerAl Jazira13 October 20191 year, 115 days
Pedro EmanuelAl Ain5 January 20201 year, 31 days
Daniel IsăilăBaniyas27 June 2020223 days
Goran TufegdžićFujairah12 July 2020208 days
Vuk RašovićAl Wahda7 September 2020151 days
Caio ZanardiKhor Fakkan2 October 2020126 days
Vladimir VermezovićHatta22 November 202075 days
Odair HellmannAl Wasl8 December 202059 days
Mahdi AliShabab Al-Ahli15 December 202052 days
Mohammad KwidAl Dhafra5 January 202131 days
Ramón DíazAl Nasr4 February 20211 day

List of champions

Source:[10]

No Season Champion Runner up
 11973–74SharjahAl Ahli
 21974–75Al AhliSharjah
 31975–76Al AhliAl Ain
 41976–77Al AinSharjah
 51977–78Al NasrAl Ain
 61978–79Al NasrSharjah
 71979–80Al AhliAl Shaab
 81980–81Al AinAl Nasr
 91981–82Al WaslAl Ain
 101982–83Al WaslSharjah
 111983–84Al AinAl Wasl
 121984–85Al WaslAl Shaab
 131985–86Al NasrAl Wasl
 141986–87SharjahAl Wasl
 151987–88Al WaslSjarjah
 161988–89SharjahAl Wasl
 171989–90Al ShababAl Wasl
×1990–91Cancelleda
 181991–92Al WaslSharjah
 191992–93Al AinAl Wasl
 201993–94SharjahAl Ain
 211994–95Al ShababAl Ain
 221995–96SharjahAl Wasl
 231996–97Al WaslAl Nasr
 241997–98Al AinSharjah
 251998–99Al WahdaAl Ain
 261999–2000Al AinAl Nasr
 272000–01Al WahdaAl Ahli
 282001–02Al AinAl Jazira
 292002–03Al AinAl Wahda
 302003–04Al AinAl Shabab
 312004–05Al WahdaAl Ain
 322005–06Al AhliAl Wahda
 332006–07Al WaslAl Wahda
 342007–08Al ShababAl Jazira
 352008–09Al AhliAl Jazira
 362009–10Al WahdaAl Jazira
 372010–11Al JaziraBaniyas
 382011–12Al AinAl Nasr
 392012–13Al AinAl 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
×2019–20Cancelledb
462020–21

Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due to Gulf war
2.^ Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates[11]

Champions

Performance by club
Club Won Runners-up Winning seasons
Al Ain
13
8
 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
Al Wasl
7
8
 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
Shabab Al Ahli
7
4
 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16
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 Nasr
3
4
 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Shababc
3
1
 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08
Al Jazira
2
5
 2010–11, 2016–17
Al Shaabd
0
2
 —
Baniyas
0
1
 —

Notes
1.^ Al Shabab along with Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017
2.^ Al Shaab dissolved in 2017

Performance by city
City / Area Titles Clubs Winning seasons
Dubai
20
Al Ahli (7): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16
Al Wasl (7): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
Al Nasr (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Shabab (3): 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08
Al Ain
13
 Al Ain (13): 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
Abu Dhabi
6
 Al Wahda (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira (2): 2010–11, 2016–17
Sharjah Sharjah (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

Performance by emirates
Emirates Titles Clubs Winning seasons
Dubai
20
Al Ahli (7): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16
Al Wasl (7): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
Al Nasr (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Shabab (3): 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08
Abu Dhabi
19
 Al Ain (13): 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
Al Wahda (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira (2): 2010–11, 2016–17
Sharjah
6
 Sharjah (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

As of July 2016 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.[12]

Players

All-time top scorers

Source:[13]

Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps
1 Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 1980–1997166230
2 Sebastián Tagliabué Al Wahda 2013–148151
3 Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 2009–142203
4 Mohammad Omar Al Wasl
Al Ain
Al Jazira
Al Dhafra
Al Nasr
Ajman		 1992–2011132237
5 Adnan Al Talyani Al Shaab 1980–1999129232
6 Abdulaziz Mohamed Sharjah N/A–2002127N/A
7
Atiq Hassan
Ahmed Abdullah		 Al Ahli
Al Ain		 1988–2002
1978–1995		117N/A
8 Faisal Khalil Al Ahli
Al Wasl
Al Shaab		 1999–2013114302
9 Fábio Lima Al Wasl 2014–102129
10 Asamoah Gyan Al-Ain
Al Ahli		 2011–201710197
11 Anderson Barbosa Sharjah
Al Wasl		 2002–200999128
12 Makhete Diop Al Dhafra
Shabab Al-Ahli		 2011–201895137
13 Ali Thani Sharjah N/A93128

Top scorers by season
Season Player Club Goals
1974–75[14] Suhail Salim Al Ahli 14
1975–76[15] Ali Nawaz Baloch Al Wahda 12
1976–77[15] Al Fadhel Santo Al Nasr 10
1977–78[15] Mohieddine Habita Al Ain 20
1980–81[16] Karim Abdul Razak Emirates 14
1981–82[17] Ahmed Abdullah Al Ain 12
1982–83[18] Carlos Al Nasr 12
1983–84[19] Ahmed Abdullah
Fahad Khamees		 Al Ain
Al Wasl		 20
1984–85[20] Fahad Khamees
Adnan Al Talyani		 Al Wasl
Al Shaab		 14
1985–86[16][20] Mohammed Salem Al Wahda 16
1986–87[16][20] Adnan Al Talyani
Khalil Ghanim		 Al Shaab
Al Khaleej		 13
1987–88[21] Zuhair Bakheet Al Wasl 25
1988–89[22] Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 14
1989–90[20] Hussain Yaslam Baniyas 16
1991–92[23][24] Youssouf Atiq Al Ahli 25
1992–93[16][24] Saif Sultan Al Ain 20
1993–94[16][25] Abdulaziz Mohammed Sharjah 18
1994–95[16][24] Bader Jassim Al Wahda 10
1995–96[24][26] Jassim Al Dokhi Al Shaab 10
1996–97[16][24] Bader Jassim Al Wahda 11
1997–98[24] Ali Thani Sharjah 18
1998–99[27] Alboury Lah Al Wahda 29
1999–00[24][28] Alboury Lah Al Wahda 18
2000–01[29][30] Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2001–02[29][31] Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2002–03[32] Cristián Montecinos Dubai 19
2003–04[33] Ali Karimi Al Ahli 14
2004–05[18][34] Valdir
Anderson Barbosa		 Al Nasr
Sharjah		 23
2005–06[35] Anderson Barbosa Sharjah 19
2006–07[36] Anderson Barbosa Al Wasl 19
2007–08[37] Faisal Khalil
Anderson Barbosa		 Al-Ahli
Al-Sharjah		 16
2008–09[38] Fernando Baiano Al Jazira 25
2009–10[39] José Sand Al Ain 24
2010–11[40] André Senghor Baniyas 18
2011–12[41] Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 22
2012–13[42] Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 31
2013–14[43] Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 29
2014–15[44] Mirko Vučinić Al Jazira 25
2015–16[45] Sebastián Tagliabué Al Wahda 25
2016–17[46] Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 33
2017–18[47] Marcus Berg Al Ain 25
2018–19[48] Sebastián Tagliabué Al Wahda 27

By country
Country Players Seasons
 United Arab Emirates 17 20
 Brazil 4 6
 Ghana 2 4
 Argentina 2 3
 Senegal 2 3
 Pakistan 1 1
 Sudan 1 1
 Tunisia 1 1
 Chile 1 1
 Iran 1 1
 Montenegro 1 1
 Sweden 1 1

References
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  2. Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.agleague.ae. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  3. "1973/74 UAE Football League". Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. "New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uaeproleague.ae.
  5. "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE transfered [sic] to the football pitch". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. Category: Asia (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Persian Gulf League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  7. "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
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  9. "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". Asian Football Confederation.
  10. Atsushi Fujioka (19 May 2011). "United Arab Emirates - List of Champions". UAE FA website. RSSSF. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  11. "PRESS STATEMANT". 18 June 2020.
  12. "لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ - سبورت 360 عربية". arabic.sport360.com.
  13. "100s". FootballUAE.net. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
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  17. "The league championship 35 years old story" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  18. "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
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  34. "2004-05: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  35. "2005-06: Goals". Goalzz.com.
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  37. "2007-08: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  38. "2008-09: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  39. "2009-10: Goals". Soccerway.com.
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  48. "2018-19: Goals". Soccerway.com.
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