UAE Pro League
The UAE Pro League, also known as the ADNOC Pro League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in the United Arab Emirates and the highest level of the Emirati [football league system].
The first team to win the title was Al Orouba, whilst Al Ain has the record with 14 league titles to their name. Fourteen clubs compete in the league that operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the First Division League.
The League was founded in 1973 as the UAE Football League. The first 1973β74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by the UAE FA in 2001. In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed, and became the organising body of the league.
Name change
Starting from the 2006β07 season the name was changed from UAE League to Etisalat League. And since the 2013β14 season, the name was changed from Etisalat Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf as per the chairman of Pro League Committee. However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of bigotry, and the Football Federation [Islamic Republic of Iran|Iranian Football Federation] barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club. After about four months of the name change a 70 million Emirates dirham|AED] one-year renewable partnership deal was announced with Arabian Gulf Development to be named Official Title Partner. On 8 August, the Pro League signed a new partnership deal with ADNOC worth 80 million AED, from the start of the 2021β22 season, the league was renamed to the UAE's ADNOC Pro League.Ranking
''As of 26 May 2024''Clubs
Member clubs (2025β26)
Prior to UAE League's transition to the professional era in 2008, many clubs have competed in the country's top tier division from 1973β74 to 2007β08. The below list is clubs that have competed in the UAE top-tier league since the Pro League era starting in 2008β09.
Seasons in Pro League
16 seasons: Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Al Wahda, Al Wasl15 seasons: Sharjah14 seasons: Baniyas13 seasons: Ajman, Al Dhafra10 seasons: Emirates, Kalba9 seasons: Al Ahli, Al [Shabab Al Arabi Club Dubai|Al Shabab]7 seasons: Shabab Al Ahli6 seasons: Dibba Al Fujairah, Khor Fakkan4 seasons: Al Shaab, Dubai, Fujairah, Hatta3 seasons: Al Bataeh2 seasons: Al Urooba1 season: Dibba Al HisnNotes:Italtics indicates that the club no longer existsBold indicates that the club is still competing in the UAE Pro League as of 2024β25
List of champions
Source:Notes
1. Competition cancelled due to Gulf War
2. Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the [United Arab Emirates]
Champions
Performance by club
As of 2024, following clubs are officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the League. Each country's usage is unique and in UAE the practice is to award one star for each five titles won. The number in parentheses is for League titles won.| Club | Won | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
| Al Ain | 14 | 9 | 1976β77, 1980β81, 1983β84, 1992β93, 1997β98, 1999β2000, 2001β02, 2002β03, 2003β04, 2011β12, 2012β13, 2014β15, 2017β18, 2021β22 |
| Al Ahli Club|Shabab Al Ahli] | 9 | 4 | 1974β75, 1975β76, 1979β80, 2005β06, 2008β09, 2013β14, 2015β16, 2022β23, 2024β25 |
| Al Wasl | 8 | 8 | 1981β82, 1982β83, 1984β85, 1987β88, 1991β92, 1996β97, 2006β07, 2023β24 |
| Sharjah | 6 | 7 | 1973β74, 1986β87, 1988β89, 1993β94, 1995β96, 2018β19 |
| [Al Wahda FC (UAE)|Al Wahda] | 4 | 5 | 1998β99, 2000β01, 2004β05, 2009β10 |
| [Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira] | 3 | 5 | 2010β11, 2016β17, 2020β21 |
| Al Nasr | 3 | 4 | 1977β78, 1978β79, 1985β86 |
| Al Shabab | 3 | 1 | 1989β90, 1994β95, 2007β08 |
| Al Shaab | 0 | 2 | β |
| Baniyas | 0 | 2 | β |
Notes
1. Al Shabab and Dubai CSC merged into Al-Ahli to form Shabab Al Ahli in 2017.
2. Al Shaab folded in 2017.
