# UAE First Division League

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Football league

UAE First Division League Founded 1974; 52 years ago (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 President's Cup International cup AFC Champions League (via cups) Current champions Hatta (3rd title) (2025-26) 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](/source/Association_football) league competition in the [United Arab Emirates](/source/United_Arab_Emirates).[1]

As of 2020–21, the league features 15 sides who play each other in a home and away [round-robin](/source/Round-robin_tournament) format, with a total of 28 games for each team. The top two sides gain promotion to the [UAE Pro-League](/source/UAE_Pro-League). On 29 May 2019, UAEFA announced that a [UAE Second Division League](/source/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](/source/Expansion_team) season.[4]

## Current teams

*As of 2025–26 UAE First Division League*

- *Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.*

Club Home city Stadium Capacity Al-Arabi Umm Al Quwain Umm Al Quwain Stadium 3,000 Al Dhaid Dhaid Al-Dhaid Stadium 500 Al Hamriyah Al Hamriyah Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium 5,000 Al Ittifaq Dubai (Al Mamzar) Various Grounds ??? Al Jazirah Al Hamra Al Jazirah Al Hamra Al Hamra Stadium 2,000 Al Orooba Qidfa / Mirbah Al Sharqi Stadium 3,000 Dibba Al Hisn Dibba Al-Hisn Dibba (H) Stadium 700 Dubai City Dubai (Al Barsha) Kings School Al Barsha 500 Dubai United Dubai (Jumeirah) Dubai British School 100 Emirates Ras Al Khaimah Emirates Club Stadium 5,200 Fujairah Fujairah Fujairah Club Stadium 10,645 Gulf United Dubai (Al Jaddaf) Dubai Club Stadium 7,000 Hatta Hatta Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium 5,000 Majd Sweihan Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium 15,000 Masfout Masfout Masfout Club Stadium 3,000

## List of champions

Source:[5][6]

- 1974–75: [Al-Shabab](/source/Al_Shabab_(Dubai))

- 1975–76: [Al Rams](/source/Al_Rams_Club)

- 1976–77: [Al-Wahda](/source/Al-Wahda_F.C.)

- 1977–78: [Oman Club](/source/Emirates_Club)

- 1978–79: [Khor Fakkan Club](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)

- 1979–80: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 1980–81: [Al Rams](/source/Al_Rams_Club)

- 1981–82: [Al Khaleej](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)

- 1982–83: [Al-Jazira](/source/Al_Jazira_Club)

- 1983–84: [Al Qadsia Club](/source/Emirates_Club)

- 1984–85: [Al-Wahda](/source/Al-Wahda_F.C.)

- 1985–86: [Fujairah](/source/Al-Fujairah_SC)

- 1986–87: [Ras Al Khaima](/source/Ras_Al_Khaima_Club)

- 1987–88: [Al-Jazira](/source/Al_Jazira_Club)

- 1988–89: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 1989–90: [Fujairah](/source/Al-Fujairah_SC)

- 1990–91: Not completed due to [Gulf War](/source/Gulf_War)

- 1991–92: [Al Urooba](/source/Al_Urooba)

- 1992–93: [Al-Shaab](/source/Al-Shaab_CSC)

- 1993–94: [Al Khaleej](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)

- 1994–95: [Baniyas](/source/Baniyas_Club)

- 1995–96: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 1996–97: [Emirates](/source/Emirates_Club)

- 1997–98: [Al-Shaab](/source/Al-Shaab_CSC)

- 1998–99: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 1999–00: [Sharjah](/source/Al-Sharjah_SCC)

- 2000–01: [Al Khaleej](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)

- 2001–02: [Al-Dhafra](/source/Al_Dhafra_FC)

- 2002–03: [Emirates](/source/Emirates_Club)

- 2003–04: [Dubai](/source/Dubai_CSC)

- 2004–05: [Baniyas](/source/Baniyas_Club)

- 2005–06: [Fujairah](/source/Al-Fujairah_SC)

- 2006–07: [Al-Dhafra](/source/Al_Dhafra_FC)

- 2007–08: [Al Khaleej](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)

- 2008–09: [Baniyas](/source/Baniyas_Club)

- 2009–10: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 2010–11: [Ajman](/source/Ajman_Club)

- 2011–12: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 2012–13: [Emirates](/source/Emirates_Club)

- 2013–14: [Ittihad Kalba](/source/Al-Ittihad_Kalba_SC)

- 2014–15: [Dibba Al-Fujairah](/source/Dibba_Al-Fujairah_Club)

- [2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_UAE_Division_1): [Hatta](/source/Hatta_Club)

- [2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_UAE_Division_1): [Ajman](/source/Ajman_Club)

- [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_UAE_Division_1): [Baniyas](/source/Baniyas_Club)

- [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_UAE_Division_1): [Khor Fakkan](/source/Khor_Fakkan_Club)

- [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_UAE_Division_1): Not completed due to [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic)

- [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_UAE_Division_1): [Al Urooba](/source/Al_Urooba)

- [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_UAE_Division_1): [Dibba Al Fujairah](/source/Dibba_Al_Fujairah_Club)

- [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_UAE_Division_1): [Hatta](/source/Hatta_Club)

- [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_UAE_Division_1): [Al Urooba](/source/Al_Urooba_Club)

- 2024–25: [Al-Dhafra](/source/Al_Dhafra_FC)

- [2025–26](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2025-26_UAE_Division_1&action=edit&redlink=1): [Hatta](/source/Hatta_Club)

[Al Khaleej](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club) was renamed in June 2017 to the match the name of the city [Khor Fakkan](/source/Al_Khaleej_Club)*[7]

## Champions

### Performance by club

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.

### Performance by city

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

### Performance by emirates

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

## Top scorers

- 1999–2000: [Razzaq Farhan](/source/Razzaq_Farhan) (**42** goals)

- 2007–08: [Modibo Kane Diarra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modibo_Kane_Diarra&action=edit&redlink=1) (**44** goals) (Record)

- 2008–09: [Nabil Daoudi](/source/Nabil_Daoudi) (**36** goals)

- 2009–10: [Michaël N'dri](/source/Micha%C3%ABl_N'dri) (**10** goals)

- 2010–11: [Patrick Fabiano](/source/Patrick_Fabiano) (**19** goals)

- 2011–12: [Makhete Diop](/source/Makhete_Diop) (**29** goals)

- 2012–13: [Modibo Kane Diarra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modibo_Kane_Diarra&action=edit&redlink=1) (**24** goals)

- 2013–14: [Modibo Kane Diarra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modibo_Kane_Diarra&action=edit&redlink=1) (**27** goals)

- 2014–15: [Michaël N'dri](/source/Micha%C3%ABl_N'dri) (**24** goals)

- 2015–16: [Tássio Maia dos Santos](/source/T%C3%A1ssio_Maia_dos_Santos) (**17** goals)

- 2016–17: [Adeílson Pereira de Mello](/source/Ade%C3%ADlson_Pereira_de_Mello) (**23** goals)

- 2017–18: [Marcus Vinícius Araujo Silva](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marcus_Vin%C3%ADcius_Araujo_Silva&action=edit&redlink=1) (**21** goals)

- 2018–19: [Vinícius Lopes](/source/Vin%C3%ADcius_Lopes_(footballer%2C_born_1988)) (**16** goals)

- 2019–20: [Alex Azeredo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Azeredo&action=edit&redlink=1) [Vinícius Lopes](/source/Vin%C3%ADcius_Lopes_(footballer%2C_born_1988)) (**11** goals)

- 2020–21: [Diogo Acosta](/source/Diogo_Acosta) (**20** goals)

- 2021–22: [Diogo Acosta](/source/Diogo_Acosta) (**27** goals)

- 2022–23: [Diogo Acosta](/source/Diogo_Acosta) (**24** goals)

- 2023–24: [Marcelo Torres](/source/Marcelo_Torres) (**26** goals)

- 2024–25: [Sander Benbachir](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sander_Benbachir&action=edit&redlink=1) (**21** goals)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rsssf_1-0)** Zaid Benjamin (28 October 2010). ["United Arab Emirates 2009/10"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae2010.html). *Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation*. Retrieved 27 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [اتحاد الكرة يطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد](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). *Sharjah* (in Arabic). Retrieved 29 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [اتحاد الكرة يُطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد](https://www.uaefa.ae/#/news/27711). *UAE Football Association*. Retrieved 29 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [اتحاد الكرة يستعرض الشكل الجديد لأغلى الكؤوس ومسابقات الموسم الرياضي المقبل](https://www.uaefa.ae/news/30292). *UAE Football Association*. Retrieved 2022-07-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [دوري الدرجة الثانية](http://www.uaefa.ae/index.php?got=local_champ3). *UAE Football Association*. Retrieved 15 August 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [تاريخ الدوري الإماراتي الدرجة الاولي](http://www.kooora.com/default.aspx?g=556&champs=true). *Kooora*. Retrieved 15 August 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [تغيير اسم نادي الخليج إلى «خورفكان»](https://www.emaratalyoum.com/sports/local/2017-06-14-1.1003587). 13 June 2017.

## External links

- [UAE FA](https://www.uaefa.ae/en/competition/1265) — official website (in English and Arabic)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [UAE First Division League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAE_First_Division_League) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAE_First_Division_League?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.