 | |
| Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | UAE Pro League |
| Relegation to | UAE Second Division League |
| Domestic cup(s) | President's Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League (via cups) |
| Current champions | Al Dhafra (3nd title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Ittihad Kalba (7 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Sharjah Sports |
| Current: 2025–26 UAE Division 1 | |
UAE First Division League is the second tier of football league competition in the United Arab Emirates.[1]
As of 2020–21, the league features 15 sides who play each other in a home and away round-robin format, with a total of 28 games for each team. The top two sides gain promotion to the UAE Pro-League. On 29 May 2019, UAEFA announced that a UAE Second Division League to be established with smaller clubs, privately owned clubs, football academies with semi-professional teams compete for promotion to UAE Division one.[2][3] On 6 July 2022, UAEFA announced that the number of participants will increase to 17 teams for the 2022–23 season. An increase of 2 teams, promoted from the UAE Second Division, and no relegation for UAE First Division clubs from the 2021–22 season, in an expansion season.[4]
As of 2024-25 UAE First Division League
| Club | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arabi | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain Stadium | 3,000 |
| Al Dahra | KEZAD | Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium | 20,000 |
| Al Dhafra | Madinat Zayed | Al Dhafra Stadium | 5,020 |
| Al Dhaid | Dhaid | Al-Dhaid Stadium | 500 |
| Al Hamriyah | Al Hamriyah | Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium | 5,000 |
| Al Jazirah Al Hamra | Al Jazirah Al Hamra | Al Hamra Stadium | 2,000 |
| Dibba Al Fujairah | Dibba Al Fujairah | Dibba New Stadium | 9,000 |
| Dubai United | Dubai (Jumeirah) | Dubai British School | 100 |
| Emirates | Ras Al Khaimah | Emirates Club Stadium | 5,200 |
| Fleetwood United[5] | Jebel Ali | Jebel Ali Stadium |
1,000 |
| Fujairah | Fujairah | Fujairah Club Stadium | 10,645 |
| Gulf FC | Dubai (Mirdif) | UIS International School | 200 |
| Gulf United | Dubai (Al Jaddaf) | Dubai Club Stadium | 7,000 |
| Hatta | Hatta | Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium | 5,000 |
| Masfout | Masfout | Masfout Club Stadium | 3,000 |
Al Khaleej was renamed in June 2017 to the match the name of the city Khorfakkan*[8]
| Club | Winners | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Kalba | 7
|
1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
| Khor Fakkan | 6
|
1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19 |
| Emirates | 5
|
1977–78, 1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |
| Baniyas | 4
|
1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2017–18 |
| Fujairah | 3 | 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 |
| Al Urooba | 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24 | |
| Al Dhafra | 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 | |
| Al Rams | 2 | 1975–76, 1980–81 |
| Al Wahda | 1976–77, 1984–85 | |
| Al Jazira | 1982–83, 1987–88 | |
| Al Shaab1 | 1992–93, 1997–98 | |
| Ajman | 2010–11, 2016–17 | |
| Dibba Al Fujairah | 2014–15, 2021–22 | |
| Hatta | 2015–16, 2022–23 | |
| Al Shabab1 | 1 | 1974–75 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 1986–87 | |
| Sharjah | 1999–00 | |
| Dubai1 | 2003–04 |
1 Club no longer exists.
| City / Area | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 8 | Baniyas | (4): 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2017–18 |
| Al Wahda | (2): 1976–77, 1984–85 | ||
| Al Jazira | (2): 1982–83, 1987–88 | ||
| Kalba | 7
|
Kalba | (7): 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 6 | Emirates | (5): 1977–78,1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | (1): 1986–87 | ||
| Khor Fakkan | Khor Fakkan | (6): 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19 | |
| Fujairah | 3 | Fujairah | (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 |
| Sharjah | Al Shaab | (2): 1992–93, 1997–98 | |
| Sharjah | (1): 1999–00 | ||
| Qidfa / Mirbah | Al Urooba | (3): 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24 | |
| Madinat Zayed | Al Dhafra | (3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 | |
| Dubai | 2 | Al Shabab | (1): 1974–75 |
| Dubai | (1): 2003–04 | ||
| Ar-Rams | Al Rams | (2): 1975–76, 1980–81 | |
| Ajman | Ajman | (2): 2010–11, 2016–17 | |
| Dibba Al-Fujairah | Dibba Al Fujairah | (2): 2014–15, 2021–22 | |
| Hatta | Hatta | (2): 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Emirates | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah | 16 | Kalba | (7): 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
| Khor Fakkan | (6): 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19 | ||
| Sharjah | (3): 1999–00, 1992–93, 1997–98 | ||
| Abu Dhabi | 11 | Baniyas | (4): 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2017–18 |
| Al Wahda | (2): 1976–77, 1984–85 | ||
| Al Jazira | (2): 1982–83, 1987–88 | ||
| Al Dhafra | (3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 | ||
| Ras Al Khaimah | 8 | Emirates | (5): 1977–78,1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |
| Al Rams | (2): 1975–76, 1980–81 | ||
| Ras Al Khaimah | (1): 1986–87 | ||
| Fujairah | Fujairah | (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 | |
| Al Urooba | (3): 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24 | ||
| Dibba Al-Fujairah | (2): 2014–15, 2021–22 | ||
| Dubai | 4 | Hatta | (2): 2015–16, 2022–23 |
| Al Shabab | (1): 1974–75 | ||
| Dubai | (1): 2003–04 | ||
| Ajman | 2
|
Ajman | (2): 2010–11, 2016–17 |
Razzaq Farhan (42 goals)
Modibo Kane Diarra (44 goals) (Record)
Nabil Daoudi (36 goals)
Michaël N'dri (10 goals)
Patrick Fabiano (19 goals)
Makhete Diop (29 goals) Modibo Kane Diarra (24 goals) Modibo Kane Diarra (27 goals) Michaël N'dri (24 goals) Tássio Maia dos Santos (17 goals) Adeílson Pereira de Mello (23 goals) Marcus Vinícius Araujo Silva (21 goals) Vinícius Lopes (16 goals) Alex Azeredo Vinícius Lopes (11 goals) Diogo Acosta (20 goals) Diogo Acosta (27 goals) Diogo Acosta (24 goals)
Marcelo Torres (26 goals) Sander Benbachir (21 goals)| National teams | ||
|---|---|---|
| League system | ||
| Domestic cups |
| |
| International Competitions | ||
