Saudi First Division League

Professional football league in Saudi Arabia

Football league

First Division League

Organising body| Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded| 1976; 49 years ago (1976)
Country| Saudi Arabia
Confederation| AFC
Number of clubs| 18 (since 2022–23)
Level on pyramid| 2
Promotion to| Saudi Pro League
Relegation to| Saudi Second Division League
Domestic cup(s)| King's Cup
International cup(s)| AFC Champions League Two (via the King's Cup)
Current champions| Neom (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championships| Hajer
Al-Wehda
Al-Qadsiah
(4 titles each)
Top goalscorer| Ousmane Barry (108 goals)
Broadcaster(s)| KSA SPORT
Website| fdl.sa
Current: 2025–26 First Division League

The Saudi First Division League (Arabic: دوري الدرجة الأولى السعودي), currently known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. It ranks below the Saudi Pro League and above the Saudi Second Division League in the Saudi Arabian football league system.[1]

## History

[edit]

Al-Najma vs Al-Riyadh in the 2010–11 Saudi First Division Season

The league was founded in 1976 alongside the Premier League which is now known as the Saudi Pro League.

Being the second-tier league it allows the first tier league clubs to either discover talents or send players on loan so they can develop.

Hajer, Al-Wehda and Al-Qadsiah hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the First Division to the top Division with nine.

## Competition format

[edit]

Since 2024, there are 18 clubs in the Saudi First Division League. During the course of a season (usually from August to May) each club plays the other clubs twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.

The top two teams are promoted to the Saudi Pro League directly, a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted alongside the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team,[2] while the bottom three teams are relegated to the Saudi Second Division League.

Each club can have a maximum of 25 players and a minimum of 16. The list can include up to 4 foreign players and 1 player born in Saudi Arabia, with the remaining players being all Saudi. Additionally, the goalkeeper position will be exclusive to Saudi players starting from the 2025–26 season.

## Current clubs

[edit]

For details on the FD League 2024–25 season, see here.

### Stadium and locations

[edit]

Abha

Al-Adalah

Al-Ain

Al-Arabi
Al-Najma

Al-Batin

Al-Bukiryah

Al-Faisaly

Al-Hazem

Al-Jabalain
Al-Tai

Al-Jandal

Al-Jubail

Al-Safa

Al-Zulfi

Jeddah

Neom

Ohod

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams in the 2024–25 First Division League

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team  | Location  | Stadium  | Capacity

|
|
|

Abha | Abha | Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium | 20,000[3]
Al-Adalah | Al-Hasa | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium | 26,000[4]
12,000
Al-Ain | Al Atawlah | King Saud Sport City Stadium | 10,000[5]
Al-Arabi | Unaizah | Department of Education Stadium | 10,000[6]
Al-Batin | Hafar al-Batin | Al-Batin Club Stadium | 6,000[7]
Al-Bukiryah | Al Bukayriyah | Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium | 5,000[8]
Al-Faisaly | Harmah | Al Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah) | 7,000
Al-Hazem | Ar Rass | Al-Hazem Club Stadium | 8,000[9]
Al-Jabalain | Ha'il | Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium | 12,250[10]
Al-Jandal | Dumat al-Jandal | Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah) | 7,000[11]
Al-Jubail | Jubail | Al-Jubail Club Stadium | 3,000[12]
Al-Najma | Unaizah  | Department of Education Stadium
Al-Najma Club Stadium | 10,000
7,000[13]
Al-Safa | Safwa | Al-Safa Club Stadium
Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium (Dammam) | 3,000
15,000[14]
26,000[15]
Al-Tai | Ha'il  | Prince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City | 12,000
Al-Zulfi | Al Zulfi | Al-Zulfi Club Stadium | 3,080[16]
Jeddah Club | Jeddah | Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium
Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City | 27,000
1,000
Neom SC | Tabuk | King Khalid Sport City Stadium | 12,000[17]
Ohod | Medina | Ohod Club Stadium | 5,000[18]

## Champions

[edit]

### Champions and Runners-up[19]

[edit]

| Season  | Winners  | Runners-up

|
|

1976–77 | Al-Nahda | Al-Ettifaq
1977–78 | Al-Riyadh | Al-Tai
1978–79 | Al-Shabab | Ohod
1979–80 | Al-Jabalain | Al-Riyadh
1980–81 | Ohod | Al-Rawdhah
1981–82  | Not held[a]
1982–83 | Al-Wehda | Al-Riyadh
1983–84 | Ohod | Al-Jabalain
1984–85 | Al-Tai | Al-Kawkab
1985–86 | Al-Ansar | Al-Raed
1986–87 | Al-Kawkab | Ohod
1987–88 | Hajer | Al-Rawdhah
1988–89 | Al-Riyadh | Al-Raed
1989–90 | Al-Najma | Al-Arabi
1990–91 | Al-Nahda | Ohod
1991–92 | Al-Raed | Al-Najma
1992–93 | Al-Nahda | Ohod
1993–94 | Al-Najma | Al-Rawdhah
1994–95 | Al-Tai | Al-Taawoun
1995–96 | Al-Wehda | Al-Ansar
1996–97 | Al-Taawoun | Al-Shoulla
1997–98 | Hajer | Al-Ansar
1998–99 | Sdoos | Al-Raed
1999–00 | Al-Ansar | Al-Qadsiah
2000–01 | Al-Tai | Al-Shoulla
2001–02 | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Raed
2002–03 | Al-Wehda | Al-Khaleej
2003–04 | Ohod | Al-Ansar
2004–05 | Al-Hazem | Abha
2005–06 | Al-Khaleej | Al-Faisaly
2006–07 | Al-Watani | Najran
2007–08 | Al-Raed | Abha
2008–09 | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Fateh
2009–10 | Al-Faisaly | Al-Taawoun
2010–11 | Hajer | Al-Ansar
2011–12 | Al-Shoulla | Al-Wehda
2012–13 | Al-Orobah | Al-Nahda
2013–14 | Hajer | Al-Khaleej
2014–15 | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Wehda
2015–16 | Al-Ettifaq | Al-Batin
2016–17 | Al-Fayha | Ohod
2017–18 | Al-Wehda | Al-Hazem
2018–19 | Abha | Damac
2019–20 | Al-Batin | Al-Qadsiah
2020–21 | Al-Hazem | Al-Fayha
2021–22 | Al-Khaleej | Al-Adalah
2022–23 | Al-Ahli | Al-Hazem
2023–24 | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Orobah
2024–25 | Neom | Al-Najma

### Performance by club

[edit]

Club  | Winners  | Winning years

|
|

Hajer |

| 1988, 1998, 2011, 2014
Al-Wehda |

| 1983, 1996, 2003, 2018
Al-Qadsiah |

| 2002, 2009, 2015, 2024
Al-Nahda |

| 1977, 1991, 1993
Al-Tai |

| 1985, 1995, 2001
Ohod |

| 1981, 1984, 2004
Al-Riyadh |

| 1978, 1989
Al-Najma |

| 1990, 1994
Al-Ansar |

| 1986, 2000
Al-Raed |

| 1992, 2008
Al-Hazem |

| 2005, 2021
Al-Khaleej |

| 2006, 2022
Al-Shabab |

| 1979
Al-Jabalain |

| 1980
Al-Kawkab |

| 1987
Al-Taawoun |

| 1997
Sdoos |

| 1999
Al-Watani |

| 2007
Al-Faisaly |

| 2010
Al-Shoulla |

| 2012
Al-Orobah |

| 2013
Al-Ettifaq |

| 2016
Al-Fayha |

| 2017
Abha |

| 2019
Al-Batin |

| 2020
Al-Ahli |

| 2023
Neom |

| 2025

## Top scorers

[edit]

Nat. | Top Scorers | Club | Season | Goals

|
|
|
|

| Mbaye Diagne | Al-Qadsiah | 2023–24 | 26
| Ablaye Mbengue | Al-Arabi | 2022–23 | 29
| Carolus Andria | Ohod | 2021–22 | 25
| Ibrahim Diomandé | Ohod | 2020–21 | 24
| Ousmane Barry | Al-Bukiryah | 2019–20 | 27
| Carolus Andria | Al-Adalah | 2018–19 | 22
| Mashari Al-Enezi | Al-Tai | 2017–18 | 21
| Abdulfattah Adam | Al-Jeel | 2016–17 | 20
| Abdulfattah Adam | Al-Jeel | 2015–16 | 20
| Mousa Madkhali | Al-Wehda | 2014–15 | 20
| Hamad Al-Juhaim | Al-Tai | 2013–14 | 20
| Mousa Madkhali | Hetten | 2012–13 | 22
| Younes Alaiwi | Al-Batin | 2011–12 | 21
| Hussain Al-Turki | Al-Khaleej | 2010–11 | 20
| Hussain Al-Turki | Al-Khaleej | 2009–10 | 16

| Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
Mohammad Al-helo | Al-Qadsiah
Sdoos | 2008–09[20] | 15
| Khalid Al Rejaib | Hajer | 2007–08 | 9
| Al-Hasan Al-Yami | Najran | 2006–07 | 20
| Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Khaleej | 2005–06 | 18
| Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2004–05 | 19
| Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2003–04 | 15
| Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2002–03 | 16
| Mohammed Manga | Sdoos | 2001–02 | 12
| Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2000–01 | 14
| Mohammed Harshan | Najran | 1999–00 | 11
| Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Rawdah | 1998–99 | 13
|  |  | 1997–98 |
| Mousa Sahab | Al-Taawoun | 1996–97 |
| Obeid Al-Dosari | Al-Wehda | 1995–96 |
| Yehey Jako | Al-Tai | 1994–95 | 11
| Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1993–94 | 15
| Hamzah Idris | Ohod | 1992–93 | 10

| Sulaiman Al Hadaithi
Mohamed Al Khalifa
Nasser Al-Qahtani | Al-Najma
Hajer
Al-Rawdah | 1991–92 | 11
| Ahmed Al-Zaaq | Al-Taawoun | 1990–91 | 11

| Khalid Al-Mansour
Hamzah Idris | Al-Arabi
Ohod | 1989–90 | 11
| Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1988–89 | 14

| Khalid Al-Mansour
Fahd Al-Hamdan | Al-Arabi
Al-Riyadh | 1987–88 | 11
| Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1986–87 | 16
| Abdullah Al-Saab | Al-Fayha | 1985–86 | 8
| Walid Sharqi | Al-Ansar | 1984–85 |
| Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed | Damac | 1983–84 | 11
| Shaye Al-Nafisah | Al-Kawkab | 1982–83 | 12
–  | –  | –  | 1981–82
[b] | –
| Abdullah Al-Mansour | Al-Taawoun | 1980–81 | 9
| Daran Al Daran | Al-Jabalain | 1979–80 | 16
|  |  | 1978–79 |
|  |  | 1977–78 |
|  |  | 1976–77 |

## Sponsorship

[edit]

Sponsorship Names

* No sponsorship (1976–2011)
* Rakaa league (2012–2013)
* No sponsorship (2014–2020)
* Yelo league (2021–present)

## See also

[edit]

* Saudi Arabian Football Federation
* List of football stadiums in Saudi Arabia
* Saudi Pro League
* Saudi Second Division League
* Saudi Third Division League
* Saudi Fourth Division League

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.
2. ^ First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Official SAFF site in English
2. ^ ""PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو"".
3. ^ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
4. ^ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
5. ^ "استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
6. ^ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
7. ^ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
8. ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
9. ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
10. ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
11. ^ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
12. ^ "ملعب نادي الجبيل".
13. ^ "ملعب نادي النجمة".
14. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
15. ^ "استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد - Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium".
16. ^ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
17. ^ "مدينة الملك خالد.. 30 عاماً في خدمة الشباب والرياضة".
18. ^ "ملعب نادي أحد".
19. ^ "سجل الفائزين". Retrieved 17 May 2019.
20. ^ alriyadh 12 May 2009 issue 14932 (in Arabic)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saudi First Division.

* Saudi Arabia Football Federation
* Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com[usurped] (Arabic)
* Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com[usurped]

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