ADNOC 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 Elite
AFC Champions League 2
Current championsShabab Al Ahli (8th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAl Ain (14 titles)
TV partnersAbu Dhabi Sports
Dubai Sports
Sharjah Sports
Fanseat
Websiteuaeproleague.ae
Current: 2023–24 season

The UAE Pro League (Arabic: دوري المحترفين الإماراتي), known for sponsorship reasons as the ADNOC Pro League,[1] is the to 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 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. Xd

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 the 8th of 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

Ranking

As of 7 December 2021[10]

Ranking Member Association Club Points Points
2021 2020Mvmt 2018 2019 2020 2021 Total
6 104 +4Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 9.400 9.000 0.000 18.671 37.071 64.696
7 1-6 -6China China 16.200 17.350 0.000 0.800 34.350 59.948
8 80United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 8.100 7.633 0.000 14.400 30.133 52.588
9 7-2 -2Thailand Thailand 16.200 5.050 0.000 8.500 29.750 51.920
10 12+2 +2Jordan Jordan 7.633 7.967 0.000 10.833 26.433 46.131

Clubs

Member clubs (2023–24)

Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Club Home city Stadium Capacity
Ajman Ajman Ajman Stadium 5,537
Al Ain Al-Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium 22,965
Al Bataeh Al Bataeh Al Bataeh Stadium 2,000
Al Jazira Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium 42,056
Al Nasr Dubai (Oud Metha) Al-Maktoum Stadium 15,058
Al Wahda Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) Al Nahyan Stadium 12,201
Al Wasl Dubai (Zabeel) Zabeel Stadium 8,439
Baniyas Abu Dhabi (Al Shamkha) Baniyas Stadium 10,000
Emirates Ras Al Khaimah Emirates Club Stadium 5,200
Hatta Hatta Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium 5,000
Kalba Kalba Ittihad Kalba Stadium 8,500
Khor Fakkan Khor Fakkan Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium 7,500
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (Deira) Rashid Stadium 12,052
Sharjah Sharjah 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 2023–24

Managers

Nat. Name Club Appointed Time in charge
RomaniaCosmin OlăroiuSharjah10 November 20212 years, 61 days
IranFarhad MajidiKalba4 June 20221 year, 220 days
SerbiaMarko NikolićShabab Al-Ahli2 June 2023222 days
SerbiaMiloš MilojevićAl Wasl2 June 2023222 days
SloveniaDarko MilaničBaniyas8 June 2023216 days
ItalyFabio VivianiHatta5 September 2023127 days
RomaniaDaniel IsăilăAjman3 October 202399 days
MontenegroNebojša JovovićKhor Fakkan28 October 202374 days
NetherlandsArno BuitenwegAl Wahda9 November 202362 days
ArgentinaHernán CrespoAl Ain14 November 202357 days
NetherlandsAlfred SchreuderAl Nasr27 November 202344 days
RomaniaMirel RădoiAl Jazira5 January 20245 days
ItalyWalter ZengaEmirates5 January 20245 days
CroatiaGoran TomićAl Bataeh7 January 20243 days

List of champions

Source:[11]

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
 462020–21Al JaziraBaniyas
 472021–22Al AinSharjah
 482022–23Shabab Al AhliAl Ain

Notes
1.^ Competition cancelled due to Gulf war
2.^ Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates[12]

Champions

Performance by club

As of 2023 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.[13]

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
8
4
1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23
Al Wasl
7
8
1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
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
3
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

Performance by city

City / Area Titles Clubs Winning seasons
Dubai
21
Al Ahli (8): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23
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
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

Performance by emirates

Emirates Titles Clubs Winning seasons
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
Dubai Al Ahli (8): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2022–23
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
Sharjah
6
Sharjah (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

Players

All-time top scorers

Source:[14]

Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps
1 United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 2009–216289
2 ArgentinaUnited Arab Emirates Sebastián Tagliabúe Al Wahda
Al Nasr
Sharjah
2013–183230
3 United Arab Emirates Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 1980–1997175
4 BrazilUnited Arab Emirates Fábio Lima Al Wasl 2014–156204
5 United Arab Emirates Adnan Al Talyani Al Shaab 1980–1999133
6 United Arab Emirates Mohammad Omar Al Wasl
Al Ain
Al Jazira
Al Dhafra
Al Nasr
Ajman
1992–2011132
7 United Arab Emirates Abdulaziz Mohamed Sharjah 1980–2003127
8 United Arab Emirates Ahmed Abdullah Al Ain 1978–1995122
9 United Arab Emirates Atiq Hassan Al Ahli 1988–2002119
10 United Arab Emirates Faisal Khalil Al Ahli
Al Wasl
Al Shaab
1999–2013114302
11 Senegal Makhete Diop Al Dhafra
Shabab Al Ahli
Sharjah
2011–2018, 2021–2023108180
12 Ghana Asamoah Gyan Al-Ain
Al Ahli
2011–201710197
13 United Arab Emirates Ismail Matar Al Wahda 2001–100405
14 Brazil Anderson Barbosa Sharjah
Al Wasl
2003–200999128
15 Togo Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba Al-Ain 2019–97101
16 United Arab Emirates Ali Thani Sharjah 93
17 United Arab Emirates Ahmed Khalil Al Ain
Shabab Al Ahli
Al Bataeh
2007–93242

Top scorers by season

Season Player Club Goals
1974–75[15] United Arab Emirates Suhail Salim Al Ahli 14
1975–76[16] Pakistan Ali Nawaz Baloch Al Wahda 13
1976–77[16] Sudan Alfadel Santo Al Nasr 11
1977–78[16] Tunisia Mohieddine Habita Al Ain 20
1978–79[16] Morocco Mostafa Mahrous Al Ahli 16
1979–80[16] United Arab Emirates Alo Ali Mohamed Emirates 14
1980–81[17] Ghana Karim Abdul Razak Emirates 14
1981–82[16] United Arab Emirates Ahmed Abdullah Al Ain 13
1982–83[18] Brazil Luiz Carlos[16] Al Nasr 12
1983–84[19] United Arab Emirates Ahmed Abdullah
United Arab Emirates Fahad Khamees
Al Ain
Al Wasl
20
1984–85[20] United Arab Emirates Fahad Khamees
United Arab Emirates Adnan Al Talyani
Al Wasl
Al Shaab
14
1985–86[17][20] United Arab Emirates Mohammed Salem Al Wahda 16
1986–87[17][20] United Arab Emirates Adnan Al Talyani
United Arab Emirates Khalil Ghanim
Al Shaab
Khor Fakkan
13
1987–88[16] United Arab Emirates Zuhair Bakheet Al Wasl 24
1988–89[16] United Arab Emirates Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 13
1989–90[20] United Arab Emirates Hussain Yaslam Baniyas 16
1990–91 Cancelleda
1991–92[21] United Arab Emirates Youssouf Atiq Al Ahli 25
1992–93[16] United Arab Emirates Saif Sultan Al Ain 21
1993–94[17][22] United Arab Emirates Abdulaziz Mohamed Sharjah 18
1994–95[17][16] United Arab Emirates Bader Jassim Al Wahda 10
1995–96[16][23] United Arab Emirates Jassim Al Dokhi Al Shaab 10
1996–97[17][16] United Arab Emirates Bader Jassim Al Wahda 11
1997–98[16] United Arab Emirates Ali Thani Sharjah 19
1998–99[24] Senegal Alboury Lah Al Wahda 29
1999–00[16][25] Senegal Alboury Lah Al Wahda 18
2000–01[26][27] United Arab EmiratesQatar Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2001–02[26][28] United Arab EmiratesQatar Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2002–03[29] Chile Cristián Montecinos Dubai 19
2003–04[30] Iran Ali Karimi Al Ahli 14
2004–05[18][31] Brazil Valdir
Brazil Anderson Barbosa
Al Nasr
Sharjah
23
2005–06[32] Brazil Anderson Barbosa Sharjah 20
2006–07[16] Brazil Anderson Barbosa
Iran Ali Samereh
Al Wasl
Al Shaab
18
2007–08[33] United Arab Emirates Faisal Khalil
Brazil Anderson Barbosa
Al Ahli
Sharjah
16
2008–09[16] Brazil Fernando Baiano Al Jazira 24
2009–10[34] Argentina José Sand Al Ain 24
2010–11[35] Senegal André Senghor Baniyas 18
2011–12[36] Ghana Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 22
2012–13[37] Ghana Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 31
2013–14[38] Ghana Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 29
2014–15[39] Montenegro Mirko Vučinić Al Jazira 25
2015–16[40] Argentina Sebastián Tagliabúe Al Wahda 25
2016–17[41] United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 33
2017–18[42] Sweden Marcus Berg Al Ain 25
2018–19[43] Argentina Sebastián Tagliabúe Al Wahda 27
2019–20[44] Togo Kodjo Laba Al Ain 19
2020–21[45] United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 25
2021–22 Togo Kodjo Laba Al Ain 26
2022–23 Togo Kodjo Laba Al Ain 28

By country

Country Players Seasons
 United Arab Emirates 17 22
 Brazil 4 6
 Ghana 2 4
 Argentina 2 3
 Senegal 2 3
 Togo 1 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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  5. Category: Asia (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Persian Gulf League". Inside World Football.
  6. "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News. 21 July 2013.
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  18. 1 2 "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
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  45. "2020-21: Goals". Soccerway.
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