 | |
| Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 15 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | UAE Pro League |
| Relegation to | UAE Second Division League |
| Domestic cup(s) | President's Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League (via cups) |
| Current champions | 2023–24: Al Urooba (2nd title) |
| Most championships | Ittihad Kalba (7 titles) |
| TV partners | Sharjah Sports |
| Current: 2024–25 season | |
UAE First Division League is the second tier of football league competition in the United Arab Emirates.[1]
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.[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 season.[4]
- ^ Zaid Benjamin (28 October 2010). "United Arab Emirates 2009/10". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ اتحاد الكرة يطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد. Sharjah (in Arabic). Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ اتحاد الكرة يُطلق مسابقة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الموسم الجديد. UAE Football Association. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ اتحاد الكرة يستعرض الشكل الجديد لأغلى الكؤوس ومسابقات الموسم الرياضي المقبل. UAE Football Association. Retrieved 2022-07-06.