UAE First Division League

{{Infobox football league

| logo = UAE_First_Division_League.png

| country = United Arab Emirates

| confed = AFC

| founded = {{Start date and age|1974}}

| teams = 15

| promotion = UAE Pro League

| relegation = UAE Second Division League

| levels = 2

| confed_cup = AFC Champions League (via cups)

| domest_cup = President's Cup

| most successful club = Ittihad Kalba (7 titles)

| champions = 2023–24: Al Urooba (2nd title)

| tv = Sharjah Sports

| website =

| current = 2024–25 season

}}

UAE First Division League is the second tier of football league competition in the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|title=United Arab Emirates 2009/10|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae2010.html|website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=27 July 2011|author=Zaid Benjamin|date=28 October 2010}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://sharjah24.ae/ar/sports/uae/190743/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF|script-title=ar:اتحاد الكرة يطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد|language=ar|work=Sharjah|access-date=29 May 2019}}{{cite web|script-title=ar:اتحاد الكرة يُطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد|url=https://www.uaefa.ae/#/news/27711|website=UAE Football Association|access-date=29 May 2019}} 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.{{Cite web |script-title=ar:اتحاد الكرة يستعرض الشكل الجديد لأغلى الكؤوس ومسابقات الموسم الرياضي المقبل |url=https://www.uaefa.ae/news/30292 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=UAE Football Association}}

Current teams

As of 2024-25 UAE First Division League

:''Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
Club ! Home city ! Stadium ! Capacity
Al-Arabi \| Umm Al Quwain \| Umm Al Quwain Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|3,000}}
Al Dahra \| KEZAD \| Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|20,000}}
Al Dhafra \| Madinat Zayed \| Al Dhafra Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|5,020}}
Al Dhaid \| Dhaid \| Al-Dhaid Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|500}}
Al Hamriyah \| Al Hamriyah \| Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|5,000}}
Al Jazirah Al Hamra \| Al Jazirah Al Hamra \| Al Hamra Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|2,000}}
Dibba Al Fujairah \| Dibba Al Fujairah \| Dibba New Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|9,000}}
Dubai United \| Dubai (Jumeirah) \| Dubai British School \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|100}}
Emirates \| Ras Al Khaimah \| Emirates Club Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|5,200}}
Fleetwood UnitedAffiliated with Fleetwood Town \| Jebel Ali \| Jebel Ali Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|1,000}}
Fujairah \| Fujairah \| Fujairah Club Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|10,645}}
Gulf FC \| Dubai (Mirdif) \| UIS International School \| style="text-align:center;"\| 200
Gulf United \| Dubai (Al Jaddaf) \| Dubai Club Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|7,000}}
Hatta \| Hatta \| Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|5,000}}
Masfout \| Masfout \| Masfout Club Stadium \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Nts\|3,000}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"

Club

! Home city

! Stadium

! Capacity

Al-Arabi

| Umm Al Quwain

| Umm Al Quwain Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}}

Al Dahra

| KEZAD

| Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|20,000}}

Al Dhafra

| Madinat Zayed

| Al Dhafra Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,020}}

Al Dhaid

| Dhaid

| Al-Dhaid Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|500}}

Al Hamriyah

| Al Hamriyah

| Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,000}}

Al Jazirah Al Hamra

| Al Jazirah Al Hamra

| Al Hamra Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|2,000}}

Dibba Al Fujairah

| Dibba Al Fujairah

| Dibba New Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|9,000}}

Dubai United

| Dubai (Jumeirah)

| Dubai British School

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|100}}

Emirates

| Ras Al Khaimah

| Emirates Club Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,200}}

Fleetwood UnitedAffiliated with Fleetwood Town

| Jebel Ali

| Jebel Ali Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"|

Fujairah

| Fujairah

| Fujairah Club Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|10,645}}

Gulf FC

| Dubai (Mirdif)

| UIS International School

| style="text-align:center;"| 200

Gulf United

| Dubai (Al Jaddaf)

| Dubai Club Stadium

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

Hatta

| Hatta

| Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,000}}

Masfout

| Masfout

| Masfout Club Stadium

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}}

List of champions

Source:{{cite web|script-title=ar:دوري الدرجة الثانية|url=http://www.uaefa.ae/index.php?got=local_champ3|website=UAE Football Association|access-date=15 August 2017}}{{cite web|script-title=ar:تاريخ الدوري الإماراتي الدرجة الاولي|url=http://www.kooora.com/default.aspx?g=556&champs=true|website=Kooora |access-date=15 August 2017}}

1974–75: Al-Shabab
1975–76: Al Rams
1976–77: Al-Wahda
1977–78: Oman Club
1978–79: Khor Fakkan Club
1979–80: Ittihad Kalba
1980–81: Al Rams
1981–82: Al Khaleej
1982–83: Al-Jazira
1983–84: Al Qadsia Club
1984–85: Al-Wahda
1985–86: Fujairah
1986–87: Ras Al Khaima
1987–88: Al-Jazira
1988–89: Ittihad Kalba
1989–90: Fujairah
1990–91: Not completed due to Gulf War
1991–92: Al Urooba
1992–93: Al-Shaab
1993–94: Al Khaleej
1994–95: Baniyas
1995–96: Ittihad Kalba
1996–97: Emirates
1997–98: Al-Shaab
1998–99: Ittihad Kalba
1999–00: Sharjah
2000–01: Al Khaleej
2001–02: Al-Dhafra
2002–03: Emirates
2003–04: Dubai
2004–05: Baniyas
2005–06: Fujairah
2006–07: Al-Dhafra
2007–08: Al Khaleej
2008–09: Baniyas
2009–10: Ittihad Kalba
2010–11: Ajman
2011–12: Ittihad Kalba
2012–13: Emirates
2013–14: Ittihad Kalba
2014–15: Dibba Al-Fujairah
2015–16: Hatta
2016–17: Ajman
2017–18: Baniyas
2018–19: Khor Fakkan
2019–20: Not completed due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21: Al Urooba
2021–22: Dibba Al Fujairah
2022–23: Hatta
2023–24: Al Urooba

Al Khaleej was renamed in June 2017 to the match the name of the city Khorfakkan*{{cite web | url=https://www.emaratalyoum.com/sports/local/2017-06-14-1.1003587 |script-title=ar:تغيير اسم نادي الخليج إلى «خورفكان» |date=13 June 2017 }}

Champions

=Performance by club=

class="wikitable"
Club ! Winners ! Winning seasons
Kalba \| {{center\|7}} \| 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14
Khor Fakkan \| {{center\|6}} \| 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19
Emirates \| {{center\|5}} \| 1977–78, 1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13
Baniyas \| {{center\|4}} \| 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2017–18
Fujairah \| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" \|3 \| 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06
Al Urooba \| 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24
Al Rams \| rowspan=8 style="text-align:center;" \|2 \| 1975–76, 1980–81
Al Wahda \| 1976–77, 1984–85
Al Jazira \| 1982–83, 1987–88
Al Shaab¹ \| 1992–93, 1997–98
Al Dhafra \| 2001–02, 2006–07
Ajman \| 2010–11, 2016–17
Dibba Al Fujairah \| 2014–15, 2021–22
Hatta \| 2015–16, 2022–23
Al Shabab¹ \| rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;" \|1 \| 1974–75
Ras Al Khaimah \| 1986–87
Sharjah \| 1999–00
Dubai¹ \| 2003–04

class="wikitable"

Club

! Winners

! Winning seasons

Kalba

| {{center|7}}

| 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14

Khor Fakkan

| {{center|6}}

| 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19

Emirates

| {{center|5}}

| 1977–78, 1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13

Baniyas

| {{center|4}}

| 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2017–18

Fujairah

| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |3

| 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06

Al Urooba

| 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24

Al Rams

| rowspan=8 style="text-align:center;" |2

| 1975–76, 1980–81

| 1976–77, 1984–85

| 1982–83, 1987–88

| 1992–93, 1997–98

| 2001–02, 2006–07

| 2010–11, 2016–17

| 2014–15, 2021–22

| rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |1

| 1974–75

Ras Al Khaimah

| 1986–87

Sharjah

| 1999–00

Dubai¹

| 2003–04

{{anchor|1}}¹ Club no longer exists.

=Performance by city=

class="wikitable"
City / Area ! Titles ! Clubs ! Winning seasons
rowspan=3\| Abu Dhabi \| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 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 \| {{center\| 7}} \| Kalba \| (7): 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14
rowspan=2\| Ras Al Khaimah \| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 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 \| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \| Fujairah \| (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06
rowspan=2\| Sharjah \| Al Shaab \| (2): 1992–93, 1997–98
Sharjah \| (1): 1999–00
Qidfa / Mirbah \| Al Urooba \| (3): 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24
rowspan=2\| Dubai \| rowspan=7 style="text-align:center;" \| 2 \| Al Shabab \| (1): 1974–75
Dubai \| (1): 2003–04
Ar-Rams \| Al Rams \| (2): 1975–76, 1980–81
Madinat Zayed \| Al Dhafra \| (2): 2001–02, 2006–07
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

class="wikitable"

City / Area

! Titles

! Clubs

! Winning seasons

rowspan=3| Abu Dhabi

| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 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

| {{center| 7}}

| Kalba

| (7): 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14

rowspan=2| Ras Al Khaimah

| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 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

| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | 3

| Fujairah

| (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06

rowspan=2| Sharjah

| Al Shaab

| (2): 1992–93, 1997–98

Sharjah

| (1): 1999–00

Qidfa / Mirbah

| Al Urooba

| (3): 1991–92, 2020–21, 2023–24

rowspan=2| Dubai

| rowspan=7 style="text-align:center;" | 2

| Al Shabab

| (1): 1974–75

Dubai

| (1): 2003–04

Ar-Rams

| Al Rams

| (2): 1975–76, 1980–81

Madinat Zayed

| Al Dhafra

| (2): 2001–02, 2006–07

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

=Performance by emirates=

class="wikitable"
Emirates ! Titles ! Clubs ! Winning seasons
rowspan=3\| Sharjah \| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 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
rowspan=4\| Abu Dhabi \| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" \| 10 \| 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 \| (2): 2001–02, 2006–07
rowspan=3\| Ras Al Khaimah \| rowspan=6 style="text-align:center;" \| 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
rowspan=3\| 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
rowspan=3\| Dubai \| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 4 \| Hatta \| (2): 2015–16, 2022–23
Al Shabab \| (1): 1974–75
Dubai \| (1): 2003–04
Ajman \| {{center\| 2}} \| Ajman \| (2): 2010–11, 2016–17

class="wikitable"

Emirates

! Titles

! Clubs

! Winning seasons

rowspan=3| Sharjah

| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 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

rowspan=4| Abu Dhabi

| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | 10

| 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

| (2): 2001–02, 2006–07

rowspan=3| Ras Al Khaimah

| rowspan=6 style="text-align:center;" | 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

rowspan=3| 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

rowspan=3| Dubai

| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 4

| Hatta

| (2): 2015–16, 2022–23

Al Shabab

| (1): 1974–75

Dubai

| (1): 2003–04

Ajman

| {{center| 2}}

| Ajman

| (2): 2010–11, 2016–17

Top scorers

1999–2000: {{flagicon|IRQ}} Razzaq Farhan (42 goals)
2007–08: {{flagicon|CIV}} Modibo Kane Diarra (44 goals) (Record)
2008–09: {{flagicon|MAR}} Nabil Daoudi (36 goals)
2009–10: {{flagicon|FRA}} Michaël N'dri (10 goals)
2010–11: {{flagicon|BRA}} Patrick Fabiano (19 goals)
2011–12: {{flagicon|SEN}} Makhete Diop (29 goals)
2012–13: {{flagicon|CIV}} Modibo Kane Diarra (24 goals)
2013–14: {{flagicon|CIV}} Modibo Kane Diarra (27 goals)
2014–15: {{flagicon|FRA}} Michaël N'dri (24 goals)
2015–16:{{flagicon|BRA}} Tássio Maia dos Santos (17 goals)
2016–17:{{flagicon|BRA}} Adeílson Pereira de Mello (23 goals)
2017–18:{{flagicon|BRA}} Marcus Vinícius Araujo Silva (21 goals)
2018–19:{{flagicon|BRA}} Vinícius Lopes (16 goals)
2019–20:{{flagicon|BRA}} Alexssander azeredo {{flagicon|BRA}} Vinícius Lopes (11 goals)
2020–21:{{flagicon|BRA}} Diogo Acosta (20 goals)
2021–22:{{flagicon|BRA}} Diogo Acosta (27 goals)
2022–23: {{flagicon|BRA}} Diogo Acosta (24 goals)
2023–24: {{flagicon|ARG}} Marcelo Torres (26 goals)

References

External links

[https://www.uaefa.ae/en/competition/1265 UAE FA] — official website {{in lang|en|ar}}

Category:Football leagues in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Second level football leagues in Asia