{{Infobox football league | logo = UAE_First_Division_League.png | country = United Arab Emirates | confed = AFC | founded = {{Start date and age|1974}} | teams = 14 | promotion = [[UAE Pro League]] | relegation = [[UAE Second Division League]] | levels = 2 | confed_cup = [[AFC Champions League]] (via cups) | domest_cup = [[UAE President's Cup|President's Cup]] | most successful club = [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] (7 titles) | champions = [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] (3rd title) | season = [[2025-26 UAE Division 1|2025-26]] | tv = Sharjah Sports | website = | current = [[2025–26 UAE Division 1]] }}
'''UAE First Division League''' is the second tier of [[association football|football]] league competition in the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name=rsssf>{{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}}</ref>
As of 2020–21, the league features 15 sides who play each other in a home and away [[Round-robin tournament|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 team|expansion]] season.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Current teams== '' As of 2025–26 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 SC (UAE)|Al-Arabi]] | [[Umm Al Quwain]] | [[Umm Al Quwain Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}} |- | [[Al Dhaid SC|Al Dhaid]] | [[Dhaid]] | [[Al-Dhaid Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|500}} |- | [[Al Hamriyah SC|Al Hamriyah]] | [[Al Hamriyah]] | [[Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,000}} |- | [[Al-Ittifaq FC (UAE)|Al Ittifaq]] | Dubai <small>([[Al Mamzar]])</small> | Various Grounds | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|???}} |- | [[Al Jazirah Al Hamra Club|Al Jazirah Al Hamra]] | [[Al Jazirah Al Hamra]] | [[Al Hamra Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|2,000}} |- | [[Al Orooba Club|Al Orooba]] | [[Qidfa]] / [[Mirbah]] | [[Al Sharqi Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}} |- | [[Dibba Al-Hisn SC|Dibba Al Hisn]] | [[Dibba Al-Hisn]] | [[Dibba (Al Hisn) Stadium|Dibba (H) Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|700}} |- | [[Dubai City F.C.|Dubai City]] | Dubai <small>([[Al Barsha]])</small> | Kings School Al Barsha | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|500}} |- | [[United FC (Dubai)|Dubai United]] | Dubai <small>([[Jumeirah]])</small> | [[Dubai British School]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|100}} |- | [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] | [[Ras Al Khaimah (city)|Ras Al Khaimah]] | [[Emirates Club Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,200}} |- | [[Fujairah FC|Fujairah]] | [[Fujairah]] | [[Fujairah Club Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|10,645}} |- | [[Gulf United FC|Gulf United]] | Dubai <small>([[Al Jaddaf]])</small> | [[Dubai Club Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|7,000}} |- | [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] | [[Hatta, United Arab Emirates|Hatta]] | [[Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,000}} |- | [[Majd FC|Majd]] | [[Sweihan]] | [[Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|15,000}} |- | [[Masfout Club|Masfout]] | [[Masfout]] | [[Masfut Club Stadium|Masfout Club Stadium]] | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}} |}
==List of champions== Source:<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} * 1974–75: [[Al Shabab (Dubai)|Al-Shabab]] * 1975–76: [[Al Rams Club|Al Rams]] * 1976–77: [[Al-Wahda F.C.|Al-Wahda]] * 1977–78: [[Emirates Club|Oman Club]] * 1978–79: [[Al Khaleej Club|Khor Fakkan Club]] * 1979–80: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 1980–81: [[Al Rams Club|Al Rams]] * 1981–82: [[Al Khaleej Club|Al Khaleej]] * 1982–83: [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]] * 1983–84: [[Emirates Club|Al Qadsia Club]] * 1984–85: [[Al-Wahda F.C.|Al-Wahda]] * 1985–86: [[Al-Fujairah SC|Fujairah]] * 1986–87: [[Ras Al Khaima Club|Ras Al Khaima]] * 1987–88: [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]] * 1988–89: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 1989–90: [[Al-Fujairah SC|Fujairah]] * 1990–91: Not completed due to [[Gulf War]] * 1991–92: [[Al Urooba]] * 1992–93: [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]] * 1993–94: [[Al Khaleej Club|Al Khaleej]] * 1994–95: [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] * 1995–96: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 1996–97: [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] * 1997–98: [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]] * 1998–99: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 1999–00: [[Al-Sharjah SCC|Sharjah]] * 2000–01: [[Al Khaleej Club|Al Khaleej]] * 2001–02: [[Al Dhafra FC|Al-Dhafra]] * 2002–03: [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] * 2003–04: [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]] * 2004–05: [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] * 2005–06: [[Al-Fujairah SC|Fujairah]] * 2006–07: [[Al Dhafra FC|Al-Dhafra]] * 2007–08: [[Al Khaleej Club|Al Khaleej]] * 2008–09: [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] * 2009–10: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 2010–11: [[Ajman Club|Ajman]] * 2011–12: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 2012–13: [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] * 2013–14: [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Ittihad Kalba]] * 2014–15: [[Dibba Al-Fujairah Club|Dibba Al-Fujairah]] * [[2015–16 UAE Division 1|2015–16]]: [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] * [[2016–17 UAE Division 1|2016–17]]: [[Ajman Club|Ajman]] * [[2017–18 UAE Division 1|2017–18]]: [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] * [[2018–19 UAE Division 1|2018–19]]: [[Khor Fakkan Club|Khor Fakkan]] * [[2019–20 UAE Division 1|2019–20]]: Not completed due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]] * [[2020–21 UAE Division 1|2020–21]]: [[Al Urooba]] * [[2021–22 UAE Division 1|2021–22]]: [[Dibba Al Fujairah Club|Dibba Al Fujairah]] * [[2022–23 UAE Division 1|2022–23]]: [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] * [[2023–24 UAE Division 1|2023–24]]: [[Al Urooba Club|Al Urooba]] * 2024–25: [[Al Dhafra FC|Al-Dhafra]] * [[2025-26 UAE Division 1|2025–26]]: [[Hatta Club|Hatta]]
{{div col end}}
[[Al Khaleej Club|Al Khaleej]] was renamed in June 2017 to the match the name of the city [[Al Khaleej Club|Khor Fakkan]]*<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
==Champions==
===Performance by club=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Club ! Winners ! Winning seasons |- | [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Kalba]] | {{center|7}} | 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 |- | [[Khor Fakkan Club|Khor Fakkan]] | {{center|6}} | 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, [[2018–19 UAE Division 1|2018–19]] |- | [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] | {{center|5}} | 1977–78, 1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |- | [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] | {{center|4}} | 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, [[2017–18 UAE Division 1|2017–18]] |- | [[Fujairah FC|Fujairah]] | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |3 | 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 |- | [[Al Urooba]] | 1991–92, [[2020–21 UAE Division 1|2020–21]], [[2023–24 UAE Division 1|2023–24]] |- |[[Al Dhafra FC|Al Dhafra]] |2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 |- | [[Al Rams Club|Al Rams]] | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |2 | 1975–76, 1980–81 |- | [[Al Wahda FC|Al Wahda]] | 1976–77, 1984–85 |- | [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]] | 1982–83, 1987–88 |- | [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al Shaab]]<sup>[[#1|1]]</sup> | 1992–93, 1997–98 |- | [[Ajman Club|Ajman]] | 2010–11, [[2016–17 UAE Division 1|2016–17]] |- | [[Dibba Al-Fujairah Club|Dibba Al Fujairah]] | 2014–15, [[2021–22 UAE Division 1|2021–22]] |- | [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] | [[2015–16 UAE Division 1|2015–16]], [[2022–23 UAE Division 1|2022–23]] |- | [[Al Shabab Al Arabi Club Dubai|Al Shabab]]<sup>[[#1|1]]</sup> | rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |1 | 1974–75 |- | [[Ras Al Khaima Club|Ras Al Khaimah]] | 1986–87 |- | [[Sharjah FC|Sharjah]] | 1999–00 |- | [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]]<sup>[[#1|1]]</sup> | 2003–04 |} {{anchor|1}}<sup>1</sup> Club no longer exists.
===Performance by city=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! [[List of cities in the United Arab Emirates|City / Area]] ! Titles ! Clubs ! Winning seasons |- | rowspan=3| [[Abu Dhabi]] | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 8 | [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] | (4): 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, [[2017–18 UAE Division 1|2017–18]] |- | [[Al-Wahda F.C.|Al Wahda]] | (2): 1976–77, 1984–85 |- | [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]] | (2): 1982–83, 1987–88 |- | [[Kalba]] | {{center| 7}} | [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|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 Club|Emirates]] | (5): 1977–78,1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |- | [[Ras Al Khaima Club|Ras Al Khaimah]] | (1): 1986–87 |- | [[Khor Fakkan]] | [[Khor Fakkan Club|Khor Fakkan]] | (6): 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, [[2018–19 UAE Division 1|2018–19]] |- | [[Fujairah]] | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | 3 | [[Fujairah FC|Fujairah]] | (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 |- | rowspan=2| [[Sharjah]] | [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al Shaab]] | (2): 1992–93, 1997–98 |- | [[Sharjah FC|Sharjah]] | (1): 1999–00 |- | [[Qidfa]] / [[Mirbah]] | [[Al Urooba]] | (3): 1991–92, [[2020–21 UAE Division 1|2020–21]], [[2023–24 UAE Division 1|2023–24]] |- |[[Madinat Zayed]] |[[Al Dhafra FC|Al Dhafra]] |(3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 |- | rowspan="2" | [[Dubai]] | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2 | [[Al Shabab Al Arabi Club Dubai|Al Shabab]] | (1): 1974–75 |- | [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]] | (1): 2003–04 |- | [[Ar-Rams]] | [[Al Rams Club|Al Rams]] | (2): 1975–76, 1980–81 |- | [[Ajman]] | [[Ajman Club|Ajman]] | (2): 2010–11, [[2016–17 UAE Division 1|2016–17]] |- | [[Dibba Al-Fujairah]] | [[Dibba Al-Fujairah Club|Dibba Al Fujairah]] | (2): 2014–15, [[2021–22 UAE Division 1|2021–22]] |- | [[Hatta, United Arab Emirates|Hatta]] | [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] | (2): [[2015–16 UAE Division 1|2015–16]], [[2022–23 UAE Division 1|2022–23]] |}
===Performance by emirates=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! [[Emirates of the United Arab Emirates|Emirates]] ! Titles ! Clubs ! Winning seasons |- | rowspan=3| [[Emirate of Sharjah|Sharjah]] | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 16 | [[Al-Ittihad Kalba SC|Kalba]] | (7): 1979–80, 1988–89, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 |- | [[Khor Fakkan Club|Khor Fakkan]] | (6): 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2007–08, [[2018–19 UAE Division 1|2018–19]] |- | [[Sharjah FC|Sharjah]] | (3): 1999–00, 1992–93, 1997–98 |- | rowspan=4| [[Emirate of Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]] | rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | 11 | [[Baniyas Club|Baniyas]] | (4): 1994–95, 2004–05, 2008–09, [[2017–18 UAE Division 1|2017–18]] |- | [[Al-Wahda F.C.|Al Wahda]] | (2): 1976–77, 1984–85 |- | [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]] | (2): 1982–83, 1987–88 |- | [[Al Dhafra FC|Al Dhafra]] | (3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 |- | rowspan=3| [[Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah|Ras Al Khaimah]] | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center;" | 8 | [[Emirates Club|Emirates]] | (5): 1977–78,1983–84,1996–97, 2002–03, 2012–13 |- | [[Al Rams Club|Al Rams]] | (2): 1975–76, 1980–81 |- | [[Ras Al Khaima Club|Ras Al Khaimah]] | (1): 1986–87 |- | rowspan=3| [[Emirate of Fujairah|Fujairah]] | [[Fujairah FC|Fujairah]] | (3): 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06 |- | [[Al Urooba]] | (3): 1991–92, [[2020–21 UAE Division 1|2020–21]], [[2023–24 UAE Division 1|2023–24]] |- | [[Dibba Al-Fujairah Club|Dibba Al-Fujairah]] | (2): 2014–15, [[2021–22 UAE Division 1|2021–22]] |- | rowspan=3| [[Emirate of Dubai|Dubai]] | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 4 | [[Hatta Club|Hatta]] | (2): [[2015–16 UAE Division 1|2015–16]], [[2022–23 UAE Division 1|2022–23]] |- | [[Al Shabab Al Arabi Club Dubai|Al Shabab]] | (1): 1974–75 |- | [[Dubai CSC|Dubai]] | (1): 2003–04 |- | [[Emirate of Ajman|Ajman]] | {{center| 2}} | [[Ajman Club|Ajman]] | (2): 2010–11, [[2016–17 UAE Division 1|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 (footballer, born 1988)|Vinícius Lopes]] ('''16''' goals) *2019–20:{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Alex Azeredo]] {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Vinícius Lopes (footballer, born 1988)|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) *2024–25: {{Flagicon|France}} [[Sander Benbachir]] ('''21''' goals)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.uaefa.ae/en/competition/1265 UAE FA] — official website {{in lang|en|ar}}
{{Football in the United Arab Emirates}} {{AFC second leagues}}
[[Category:Football leagues in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:Second-level domestic association football leagues in Asia]]