{{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 = President's Cup | most successful club = Ittihad Kalba (7 titles) | champions = Hatta (3rd title) | season = 2025-26 | tv = Sharjah Sports | website = | current = 2025–26 UAE Division 1 }}
'''UAE First Division League''' is the second tier of 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 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 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 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}} |- | 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 Ittifaq | Dubai <small>(Al Mamzar)</small> | Various Grounds | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|???}} |- | Al Jazirah Al Hamra | Al Jazirah Al Hamra | Al Hamra Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|2,000}} |- | Al Orooba | Qidfa / Mirbah | Al Sharqi Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|3,000}} |- | Dibba Al Hisn | Dibba Al-Hisn | Dibba (H) Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|700}} |- | Dubai City | Dubai <small>(Al Barsha)</small> | Kings School Al Barsha | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|500}} |- | Dubai United | Dubai <small>(Jumeirah)</small> | Dubai British School | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|100}} |- | Emirates | Ras Al Khaimah | Emirates Club Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,200}} |- | Fujairah | Fujairah | Fujairah Club Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|10,645}} |- | Gulf United | Dubai <small>(Al Jaddaf)</small> | Dubai Club Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|7,000}} |- | Hatta | Hatta | Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|5,000}} |- | Majd | Sweihan | Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium | style="text-align:center;"| {{Nts|15,000}} |- | Masfout | Masfout | 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 * 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 * 2024–25: Al-Dhafra * 2025–26: Hatta
{{div col end}}
Al Khaleej was renamed in June 2017 to the match the name of the city 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 |- | 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="3" style="text-align:center;" |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 | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |2 | 1975–76, 1980–81 |- | Al Wahda | 1976–77, 1984–85 |- | Al Jazira | 1982–83, 1987–88 |- | Al Shaab<sup>1</sup> | 1992–93, 1997–98 |- | Ajman | 2010–11, 2016–17 |- | Dibba Al Fujairah | 2014–15, 2021–22 |- | Hatta | 2015–16, 2022–23 |- | Al Shabab<sup>1</sup> | rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |1 | 1974–75 |- | Ras Al Khaimah | 1986–87 |- | Sharjah | 1999–00 |- | Dubai<sup>1</sup> | 2003–04 |} {{anchor|1}}<sup>1</sup> 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="5" 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 |- |Madinat Zayed |Al Dhafra |(3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25 |- | rowspan="2" | Dubai | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 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=== {| 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;" | 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 |- | 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}} Alex 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) *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