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Saudi First Division League

{{short description|Professional football league in Saudi Arabia}}

{{Infobox football league

| logo = Saudi First Division League Logo.svg

| pixels = 190px

| name = First Division League

| country = Saudi Arabia

| confed = AFC

| ranking =

| founded = {{start date and age|1976}}

| organiser = Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)

| teams = 18 (since 2022–23)

| promotion = Saudi Pro League

| relegation = Saudi Second Division League

| levels = 2

| domest_cup = King's Cup

| champions = Al-Qadsiah (4th titles)

| season = 2023–24 season

| most successful club = Hajer
Al-Wehda
Al-Qadsiah
(4 titles each)

| top_goalscorer = Ousmane Barry (108 goals)

| sponsor =

| tv = KSA SPORT

| website = {{URL|https://fdl.sa/}}

| current = 2024–25 First Division League|confed_cup=AFC Champions League Two (via the King's Cup)}}

The Saudi First Division League ({{langx|ar|دوري الدرجة الأولى السعودي}}), currently known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. It ranks below the Saudi Pro League and above the Saudi Second Division League in the Saudi Arabian football league system.[https://www.saff.com.sa/en/championships.php Official SAFF site in English]

History

File:Match between Al-Najma and Al-Riyadh - Saudi First Division.JPG]]

The league was founded in 1976 alongside the Premier League Which is now known as the Saudi Pro League.

being the second-tier league it allows the first tier league clubs to either discover talents or send players on loan so they can develop.

Hajer, Al-Wehda and Al-Qadsiah hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the First Division to the top Division with nine.

Competition format

{{updated|2024}}

There are 18 clubs in the Saudi First Division League. During the course of a season (usually from August to May) each club plays the other clubs twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.

The top two teams are promoted to the Saudi Pro League directly, a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted alongside the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team,{{cite web |title="PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو" |url=https://arriyadiyah.com/842858/}} while the bottom three teams are relegated to the Saudi Second Division League.

Each club can have a maximum of 25 players and a minimum of 16. The list can include up to 4 foreign players and 1 player born in Saudi Arabia, with the remaining players being all Saudi. Additionally, the goalkeeper position will be exclusive to Saudi players starting from the 2025–26 season.

Current clubs

For details on the FD League 2024–25 season, see here.

=Stadium and locations=

{{Location map+ |Saudi Arabia |width=500 |float=right |label_size=85 |caption=Locations of teams in the 2024–25 First Division League |places=

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=18.216944 |long=42.505278 |label=Abha|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=25.429444 |long=49.621944 |label=Al-Adalah|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=20.273305 |long=41.357353 |label=Al-Ain|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=26.085461 |long=43.906772 |label=Al-Arabi
Al-Najma|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=28.434167 |long=45.963611 |label=Al-Batin|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=26.25 |long=43.76667 |label=Al-Bukiryah|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=25.995687 |long=45.316519 |label=Al-Faisaly |position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=25.866667 |long=43.5 |label=Al-Hazem|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=27.516667 |long=41.683333 |label=Al-Jabalain
Al-Tai|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=29.8002928|long=39.8609412|label=Al-Jandal|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=27 |long=49.666667 |label=Al-Jubail|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=26.6500 |long=49.9500 |label=Al-Safa|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=26.29945 |long=44.81542 |label=Al-Zulfi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=21.54333 |long=39.17278 |label=Jeddah |position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=28.397222 |long=36.578889 |label=Neom|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Saudi Arabia |lat=24.466667 |long=39.6 |label=Ohod|position=bottom}}

}}

:Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

class="wikitable sortable"
Team

! Location

! Stadium

! Capacity

Abha

|Abha

|Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|20,000}}{{cite web |title=Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah) |url=https://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&stadium=4463}}

Al-Adalah

|Al-Hasa

|Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|26,000}}{{cite web |title=Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&sportstadiums=99&searchcountry=SA&stadium=4676}}
{{gaps|12,000}}

Al-Ain

|Al Atawlah

|King Saud Sport City Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|10,000}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&sportstadiums=99&searchcountry=SA&stadium=4462|website=kooora.com|title=استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية|access-date=18 September 2018}}

Al-Arabi

|Unaizah

|Department of Education Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|10,000}}{{cite web |title=Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=5017}}

Al-Batin

|Hafar al-Batin

|Al-Batin Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|6,000}}{{cite web |title=Al batin Club Stadiuem |url=https://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&sportstadiums=99&searchcountry=SA&stadium=5949}}

Al-Bukiryah

|Al Bukayriyah

|Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|5,000}}{{cite web |title=Albukiryah Club Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/default.aspx?showstadiums=1&searchcountry=SA&stadium=4620}}

Al-Faisaly

|Harmah

|Al Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah)

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|7,000}}

Al-Hazem

|Ar Rass

|Al-Hazem Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|8,000}}{{cite web |title=Alhazm Club Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&sportstadiums=99&searchcountry=SA&stadium=4386}}

Al-Jabalain

|Ha'il

|Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|12,250}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&sportstadiums=99&searchcountry=SA&stadium=259|website=kooora.com|title=استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي|accessdate=18 September 2018}}

Al-Jandal

|Dumat al-Jandal

|Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah)

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|7,000}}{{cite web |title=ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=4430}}

Al-Jubail

|Jubail

|Al-Jubail Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|3,000}}{{cite web |title=ملعب نادي الجبيل |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=5520}}

Al-Najma

|Unaizah

|Department of Education Stadium
Al-Najma Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|10,000}}
{{gaps|7,000}}{{cite web |title=ملعب نادي النجمة |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=5018}}

Al-Safa

|Safwa

|Al-Safa Club Stadium
Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium {{small|(Khobar)}}
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium {{small|(Dammam)}}

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|3,000}}
{{gaps|15,000}}{{cite web |title=استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة) |url=https://www.kooora.com/default.aspx?showstadiums=1&searchcountry=SA&pg=1&stadium=4380}}
{{gaps|26,000}}{{cite web |title=استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد - Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=258}}

Al-Tai

|Ha'il

|Prince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City

|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|12,000}}

Al-Zulfi

| Al Zulfi

| Al-Zulfi Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|3,080}}{{cite web |title=ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=6703}}

Jeddah Club

|Jeddah

|Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium
Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|27,000}}
{{gaps|1,000}}

Neom SC

|Tabuk

|King Khalid Sport City Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|12,000}}{{cite web |title=مدينة الملك خالد.. 30 عاماً في خدمة الشباب والرياضة |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/1512030}}

Ohod

|Medina

|Ohod Club Stadium

|style="text-align:center"|{{gaps|5,000}}{{cite web |title=ملعب نادي أحد |url=https://www.kooora.com/?stadium=6699}}

Champions

=Champions and Runners-up<ref>{{cite web |title=سجل الفائزين |url=http://www.kooora.com/?g=489&champs=true |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>=

valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

Season

! Winners

! Runners-up

1976–77

| Al-Nahda

| Al-Ettifaq

1977–78

| Al-Riyadh

| Al-Tai

1978–79

| Al-Shabab

| Ohod

1979–80

| Al-Jabalain

| Al-Riyadh

1980–81

| Ohod

| Al-Rawdhah

1981–82

|colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |Not held1

1982–83

| Al-Wehda

| Al-Riyadh

1983–84

| Ohod

| Al-Jabalain

1984–85

| Al-Tai

| Al-Kawkab

1985–86

| Al-Ansar

| Al-Raed

1986–87

| Al-Kawkab

| Ohod

1987–88

| Hajer

| Al-Rawdhah

1988–89

| Al-Riyadh

| Al-Raed

1989–90

| Al-Najma

| Al-Arabi

1990–91

| Al-Nahda

| Ohod

|valign="top"|

class="wikitable"
Season

! Winners

! Runners-up

1991–92

| Al-Raed

| Al-Najma

1992–93

| Al-Nahda

| Ohod

1993–94

| Al-Najma

| Al-Rawdhah

1994–95

| Al-Tai

| Al-Taawoun

1995–96

| Al-Wehda

| Al-Ansar

1996–97

| Al-Taawoun

| Al-Shoulla

1997–98

| Hajer

| Al-Ansar

1998–99

| Sdoos

| Al-Raed

1999–2000

| Al-Ansar

| Al-Qadsiah

2000–01

| Al-Tai

| Al-Shoulla

2001–02

| Al-Qadsiah

| Al-Raed

2002–03

| Al-Wehda

| Al-Khaleej

2003–04

| Ohod

| Al-Ansar

2004–05

| Al-Hazem

| Abha

2005–06

| Al-Khaleej

| Al-Faisaly

|valign="top"|

class="wikitable"
Season

! Winners

! Runners-up

2006–07

| Al-Watani

| Najran

2007–08

| Al-Raed

| Abha

2008–09

| Al-Qadsiah

| Al-Fateh

2009–10

| Al-Faisaly

| Al-Taawoun

2010–11

| Hajer

| Al-Ansar

2011–12

| Al-Shoulla

| Al-Wehda

2012–13

| Al-Orobah

| Al-Nahda

2013–14

| Hajer

| Al-Khaleej

2014–15

| Al-Qadsiah

| Al-Wehda

2015–16

| Al-Ettifaq

| Al-Batin

2016–17

| Al-Fayha

| Ohod

2017–18

| Al-Wehda

| Al-Hazem

2018–19

| Abha

| Damac

2019–20

| Al-Batin

| Al-Qadsiah

2020–21

| Al-Hazem

| Al-Fayha

|valign="top"|

class="wikitable"
Season

! Winners

! Runners-up

2021–22

| Al-Khaleej

| Al-Adalah

2022–23

| Al-Ahli

| Al-Hazem

2023–24

| Al-Qadsiah

| Al-Orobah

|}

;Note: 1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.

=Performance by club=

class="wikitable"
Club

! Winners

! Winning years

Hajer

| {{center|4}}

| 1988, 1998, 2011, 2014

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Wehda

| {{center|4}}

| 1983, 1996, 2003, 2018

Al-Qadsiah

| {{center|4}}

| 2002, 2009, 2015, 2024

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Nahda

| {{center|3}}

| 1977, 1991, 1993

Al-Tai

| {{center|3}}

| 1985, 1995, 2001

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Ohod

| {{center|3}}

| 1981, 1984, 2004

Al-Riyadh

| {{center|2}}

| 1978, 1989

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Najma

| {{center|2}}

| 1990, 1994

Al-Ansar

| {{center|2}}

| 1986, 2000

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Raed

| {{center|2}}

| 1992, 2008

Al-Hazem

| {{center|2}}

| 2005, 2021

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Khaleej

| {{center|2}}

| 2006, 2022

Al-Shabab

| {{center|1}}

| 1979

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Jabalain

| {{center|1}}

| 1980

Al-Kawkab

| {{center|1}}

| 1987

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Taawoun

| {{center|1}}

| 1997

Sdoos

| {{center|1}}

| 1999

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Watani

| {{center|1}}

| 2007

Al-Faisaly

| {{center|1}}

| 2010

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Shoulla

| {{center|1}}

| 2012

Al-Orobah

| {{center|1}}

| 2013

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Al-Ettifaq

| {{center|1}}

| 2016

Al-Fayha

| {{center|1}}

| 2017

style="background:#f4faff;"

| Abha

| {{center|1}}

| 2019

Al-Batin

| {{center|1}}

| 2020

Al-Ahli

| {{center|1}}

| 2023

Top scorers

{{updated|the 2023–2024}} season

cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="margin:auto; background:#f7f8ff; font-size:95%; border:gray solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse;"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Nat.

! Top Scorers

! Club

! Season

! Goals

align=center

! {{flagicon|SEN}}

| Mbaye Diagne

| Al-Qadsiah

! 2023–24

! 26

align=center

! {{flagicon|SEN}}

| Ablaye Mbengue

| Al-Arabi

! 2022–23

! bgcolor=gold|29

align=center

! {{flagicon|MAD}}

| Carolus Andria

| Ohod

! 2021–22

! 25

align=center

! {{flagicon|CIV}}

| Ibrahim Diomandé

| Ohod

! 2020–21

! 24

align=center

! {{flagicon|GUI}}

| Ousmane Barry

| Al-Bukiryah

! 2019–20

! 27

align=center

! {{flagicon|MAD}}

| Carolus Andria

| Al-Adalah

! 2018–19

| 22

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mashari Al-Enezi

| Al-Tai

| 2017–18

| 21

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Abdulfattah Adam

| Al-Jeel

| 2016–17

| 20

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Abdulfattah Adam

| Al-Jeel

| 2015–16

| 20

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mousa Madkhali

| Al-Wehda

| 2014–15

| 20

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Hamad Al-Juhaim

| Al-Tai

| 2013–14

| 20

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mousa Madkhali

| Hetten

| 2012–13

| 22

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Younes Alaiwi

| Al-Batin

| 2011–12

| 21

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Hussain Al-Turki

| Al-Khaleej

| 2010–11

| 20

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Hussain Al-Turki

| Al-Khaleej

| 2009–10

| 16

align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}
{{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
Mohammad Al-helo

| Al-Qadsiah
Sdoos

| 2008–09

| 15[http://www.alriyadh.com/428671 alriyadh] 12 May 2009 issue 14932 {{in lang|ar}}

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al Rejaib

| Hajer

| 2007–08

| 9

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Al-Hasan Al-Yami

| Najran

| 2006–07

| 20

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mubarak Al Khaleefah

| Al-Khaleej

| 2005–06

| 18

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammed Abuarad

| Abha

| 2004–05

| 19

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammed Abuarad

| Abha

| 2003–04

| 15

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammed Abuarad

| Abha

| 2002–03

| 16

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|SEN}}

|Mohammed Manga

| Sdoos

| 2001–02

| 12

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammed Abuarad

| Abha

| 2000–01

| 14

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohammed Harshan

| Najran

| 1999–00

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mubarak Al Khaleefah

| Al-Rawdhah

| 1998–99

| 13

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

|

|

|

| 1997–98

|

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mousa Sahab

| Al-Taawoun

| 1996–97

|

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Obeid Al-Dosari

| Al-Wehda

| 1995–96

|

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|SEN}}

| Yehey Jako

| Al-Tai

| 1994–95

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al-Mansour

| Al-Arabi

| 1993–94

| 15

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Hamzah Idris

| Ohod

| 1992–93

| 10

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}
{{flagicon|KSA}}
{{flagicon|KSA}}

| Sulaiman Al Hadaithi
Mohamed Al Khalifa
Nasser Al-Qahtani

| Al-Najma
Hajer
Al-Rawdhah

| 1991–92

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Ahmed Al-Zaaq

| Al-Taawoun

| 1990–91

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}
{{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al-Mansour
Hamzah Idris

| Al-Arabi
Ohod

| 1989–90

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al-Mansour

| Al-Arabi

| 1988–89

| 14

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}
{{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al-Mansour
Fahd Al-Hamdan

| Al-Arabi
Al-Riyadh

| 1987–88

| 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Khalid Al-Mansour

| Al-Arabi

| 1986–87

! 16

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Abdullah Al-Saab

| Al-Fayha

| 1985–86

! 8

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Walid Sharqi

| Al-Ansar

| 1984–85

!

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed

| Damac

| 1983–84

! 11

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Shaye Al-Nafisah

| Al-Kawkab

| 1982–83

! 12

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| -

| -

| -

| 1981–82
First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.

!-

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Abdullah Al-Mansour

| Al-Taawoun

| 1980–81

! 9

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

| {{flagicon|KSA}}

| Daran Al Daran

| Al-Jabalain

| 1979–80

! 16

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

|

|

|

| 1978–79

!

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

|

|

|

| 1977–78

!

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
align=center

|

|

|

| 1976–77

!

bgcolor="#EFEFEF"

Sponsorship

Sponsorship Names

  • No sponsorship (1976–2011)
  • Rakaa league (2012–2013)
  • No sponsorship (2014–2020)
  • Yelo league (2021–present)

See also

References

External links

{{Commons category|Saudi First Division}}

  • [http://www.saff.com.sa/en Saudi Arabia Football Federation]
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140420061132/http://hailoosport.com/league?lang=ar&league=629f3a241c7e1e5b48e55753d880f51a®ion=Middle%20East Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com]}} (Arabic)
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130814102619/http://hailoosport.com/league?lang=en&league=629f3a241c7e1e5b48e55753d880f51a®ion=Middle%20East Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com]}}

{{Football in Saudi Arabia}}

{{Saudi First Division seasons}}

{{AFC second leagues}}

2

Category:Second level football leagues in Asia

Category:Sports leagues established in 1976