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Saudi First Division League

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This article is about the Saudi men's league. For the Saudi women's league, see Saudi Women's First Division League.
First Division League
دوري الدرجة الأولى
Organising bodySaudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded1957; 68 years ago (1957)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs18 (since 2022–23)
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toSaudi Pro League
Relegation toSaudi Second Division League
Domestic cupKing's Cup
International cupAFC Champions League Two (via the King's Cup)
Current championsNeom (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championshipsHajer
Al-Wehda
Al-Qadsiah
Al-Jabalain
(4 titles each)
Top scorerOusmane Barry (108 goals)
Broadcaster(s)Thmanyah
Websitefdl.sa
Current: 2025–26 First Division League

The Saudi First Division League (FDL), also known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Saudi Arabia and serves as the second tier of the Saudi football league system. It ranks directly below the Saudi Pro League and above the Saudi Second Division League.[1]

History

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

The First Division League, originally thought to have been established in 1976, was officially recognized in 2025 as having been founded in 1957, following the findings of the 2023–2025 Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) historical documentation project. This revision aligns the league's origins with those of the Saudi Pro League, whose early development occurred in the same era.[2]

Prior to 1976, records of Saudi football competitions were sporadic and poorly archived. In response, a national effort was undertaken to verify and document early league structures. The SAFF project uncovered evidence of organized second-tier competitions dating back to the late 1950s, which were eventually unified and formally structured into what became the First Division.

From the 2017–18 season[3] to the 2020–21 season, the league was named in honor of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Throughout its history, the league has served as a vital platform for club development and promotion to the top flight. Among its most successful participants, Hajer, Al-Wehda, Al-Qadsiah, and Al-Jabalain each hold four titles—the most in the league’s recorded history.[4]

Competition format

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There are 18 clubs in the 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,[5] 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. Foreign goalkeepers were first allowed during the 2017–18 season. However, since the 2025–26 season, the goalkeeper position has been restricted exclusively to Saudi players.[6]

Current clubs

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For details on the FD League 2025–26 season, see here.

Stadiums and locations

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2025–26 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Abha Abha Al-Mahalah Stadium
Damac Club Stadium (Khamis Mushait) 		20,000[7]
5,000
Al-Adalah Al-Ahsa Hofuf stadium
Hajer Club Stadium 		26,000[8]
12,000
Al-Anwar Hotat Bani Tamim Al-Anwar Club Stadium
Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj) 		8,000[9]
8,000
Al-Arabi Unaizah Department of Education Stadium 10,000[10]
Al-Batin Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium 6,000[11]
Al-Bukiryah Al-Bukiryah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium 5,000[12]
Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Stadium (Riyadh) 15,000[13]
Al-Faisaly Harmah Al-Majma'ah Sports City Stadium (Al-Majma'ah) 7,000
Al-Jabalain Hail Prince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City Stadium 12,250[14]
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Jawf University Stadium (Sakakah) 8,500[15]
Al-Jubail Jubail Prince Nayef Sports City Stadium (Qatif)
Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium (Khobar) 		12,000[16]
15,000[17]
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Jawf University Stadium
Al-Orobah Club Stadium 		8,500
7,000[18]
Al-Raed Buraidah Al-Raed Club Stadium
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium Buraidah 		5,000
25,000
Al-Tai Hail Prince Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sports City Stadium 12,000
Al-Ula al-Ula Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Sports City (Medina) 24,000[19]
Al-Wehda Mecca King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium 38,000
Al-Zulfi Al-Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium 3,080[20]
Jeddah Jeddah Al-Faisal Stadium
Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City 		27,000
1,000

Champions

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List of champions[21][22][23]

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# Season Champions Runners-up
1 1957–58 Al-Alamein –
2 1958–59 Al-Shatei –
3 1959–60 Thaqeef –
4 1960–61 Al-Kawakeb –
5 1961–62 Nusoor Al-Hejaz –
6 1962–63 Nusoor Al-Hejaz –
7 1963–64 Al-Nassr –
8 1964–65 Al-Sharq Al-Watani –
9 1965–66 Al-Sharq Al-Watani –
10 1966–67 Hajer –
11 1967–68 Al-Tadamon –
12 1968–69 Al-Jabalain –
13 1969–70 Hajer –
14 1970–71 Al-Jabalain –
15 1971–72 Abha –
16 1972–73 Al-Jabalain –
17 1973–74 Not held
18 1974–75 Not held
19 1975–76 Not completed
20 1976–77 Al-Nahda Al-Ettifaq
21 1977–78 Al-Riyadh Al-Tai
22 1978–79 Al-Shabab Ohod
23 1979–80 Al-Jabalain Al-Riyadh
24 1980–81 Ohod Al-Rawdah
25 1981–82 Not held
26 1982–83 Al-Wehda Al-Riyadh
27 1983–84 Ohod Al-Jabalain
28 1984–85 Al-Tai Al-Kawkab
29 1985–86 Al-Ansar Al-Raed
30 1986–87 Al-Kawkab Ohod
31 1987–88 Hajer Al-Rawdah
32 1988–89 Al-Riyadh Al-Raed
33 1989–90 Al-Najma Al-Arabi
34 1990–91 Al-Nahda Ohod
35 1991–92 Al-Raed Al-Najma
36 1992–93 Al-Nahda Ohod
37 1993–94 Al-Najma Al-Rawdah
38 1994–95 Al-Tai Al-Taawoun
39 1995–96 Al-Wehda Al-Ansar
40 1996–97 Al-Taawoun Al-Shoulla
41 1997–98 Hajer Al-Ansar
42 1998–99 Sdoos Al-Raed
43 1999–00 Al-Ansar Al-Qadsiah
44 2000–01 Al-Tai Al-Shoulla
45 2001–02 Al-Qadsiah Al-Raed
46 2002–03 Al-Wehda Al-Khaleej
47 2003–04 Ohod Al-Ansar
48 2004–05 Al-Hazem Abha
49 2005–06 Al-Khaleej Al-Faisaly
50 2006–07 Al-Watani Najran
51 2007–08 Al-Raed Abha
52 2008–09 Al-Qadsiah Al-Fateh
53 2009–10 Al-Faisaly Al-Taawoun
54 2010–11 Hajer Al-Ansar
55 2011–12 Al-Shoulla Al-Wehda
56 2012–13 Al-Orobah Al-Nahda
57 2013–14 Hajer Al-Khaleej
58 2014–15 Al-Qadsiah Al-Wehda
59 2015–16 Al-Ettifaq Al-Batin
60 2016–17 Al-Fayha Ohod
61 2017–18 Al-Wehda Al-Hazem
62 2018–19 Abha Damac
63 2019–20 Al-Batin Al-Qadsiah
64 2020–21 Al-Hazem Al-Fayha
65 2021–22 Al-Khaleej Al-Adalah
66 2022–23 Al-Ahli Al-Hazem
67 2023–24 Al-Qadsiah Al-Orobah
68 2024–25 Neom Al-Najma

Performance by club

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Club Titles Winning Years
Hajer 4 1966–67, 1979–80, 1987–88, 2013–14
Al-Jabalain 4 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1979–80
Al-Wehda 4 1982–83, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2017–18
Al-Qadsiah 4 2001–02, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2023–24
Al-Nahda 3 1976–77, 1990–91, 1992–93
Al-Tai 3 1984–85, 1994–95, 2000–01
Ohod 3 1980–81, 1983–84, 2003–04
Al-Riyadh 2 1977–78, 1988–89
Al-Najma 2 1989–90, 1993–94
Al-Ansar 2 1985–86, 1999–2000
Al-Raed 2 1991–92, 2007–08
Al-Hazem 2 2004–05, 2020–21
Al-Khaleej 2 2005–06, 2021–22
Abha 2 1971–72, 2018–19
Al-Sharq Al-Watani 2 1964–65, 1965–66
Nusoor Al-Hejaz 2 1961–62, 1962–63
Al-Nassr 1 1963–64
Al-Shabab 1 1978–79
Al-Kawkab 1 1986–87
Al-Taawoun 1 1996–97
Sdoos 1 1998–99
Al-Watani 1 2006–07
Al-Faisaly 1 2009–10
Al-Shoulla 1 2011–12
Al-Orobah 1 2012–13
Al-Ettifaq 1 2015–16
Al-Fayha 1 2016–17
Al-Ahli 1 2022–23
Al-Batin 1 2019–20
Neom 1 2024–25
Al-Alamein 1 1957–58
Al-Shatei 1 1958–59
Thaqeef 1 1959–60
Al-Kawakeb 1 1960–61
Al-Tadamon 1 1967–68

Top scorers

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  •   Record
Season Nat. Top scorer(s) Club(s) Goals
2024–25 Brazil Alan Cariús Al-Adalah 20
2023–24 Senegal Mbaye Diagne Al-Qadsiah 26
2022–23 Senegal Ablaye Mbengue Al-Arabi 29
2021–22 Madagascar Carolus Andria Ohod 25
2020–21 Ivory Coast Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod 24
2019–20 Guinea Ousmane Barry Al-Bukiryah 27
2018–19 Madagascar Carolus Andria Al-Adalah 22
2017–18 Saudi Arabia Mashari Al-Enezi Al-Tai 21
2016–17 Saudi Arabia Abdulfattah Adam Al-Jeel 20
2015–16 Saudi Arabia Abdulfattah Adam Al-Jeel 20
2014–15 Saudi Arabia Mousa Madkhali Al-Wehda 20
2013–14 Saudi Arabia Hamad Al-Juhaim Al-Tai 20
2012–13 Saudi Arabia Mousa Madkhali Hetten 22
2011–12 Saudi Arabia Younes Alaiwi Al-Batin 21
2010–11 Saudi Arabia Hussain Al-Turki Al-Khaleej 20
2009–10 Saudi Arabia Hussain Al-Turki Al-Khaleej 16
2008–09 Saudi Arabia Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
Mohammad Al-helo Al-Enizi		 Al-Qadsiah
Sdoos		 15
2007–08 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Rejaib Hajer 9
2006–07 Saudi Arabia Al-Hasan Al-Yami Najran 20
2005–06 Saudi Arabia Mubarak Al-Khalifa Al-Khaleej 18
2004–05 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abu Arad Abha 19
2003–04 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abu Arad Abha 15
2002–03 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abu Arad Abha 16
2001–02 Senegal Mohammed Manga Sdoos 12
2000–01 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abu Arad Abha 14
1999–00 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Harshan Najran 11
1998–99 Saudi Arabia Mubarak Al-Khalifa Al-Rawdah 13
1997–98 – – – –
1996–97 Saudi Arabia Mousa Sahab Al-Taawoun –
1995–96 Saudi Arabia Obeid Al-Dosari Al-Wehda –
1994–95 Senegal Yehey Jako Al-Tai 11
1993–94 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 15
1992–93 Saudi Arabia Hamzah Idris Ohod 10
1991–92 Saudi Arabia Sulaiman Al-Hadaithi
Mohamed Al-Khalifa
Nasser Al-Qahtani		 Al-Najma
Hajer
Al-Rawdah		 11
1990–91 Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al-Zaaq Al-Taawoun 11
1989–90 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour
Hamzah Idris		 Al-Arabi
Ohod		 11
1988–89 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 14
1987–88 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour
Fahd Al-Hamdan		 Al-Arabi
Al-Riyadh		 11
1986–87 Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 16
1985–86 Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Saab Al-Fayha 8
1984–85 Saudi Arabia Waleed Sharqi Al-Ansar –
1983–84 Saudi Arabia Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed Damac 11
1982–83 Saudi Arabia Shaye Al-Nafisah Al-Kawkab 12
1980–81 Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Mansour Al-Taawoun 9
1979–80 Saudi Arabia Daraan Al-Daraan Al-Jabalain 16
1978–79 – – – –
1977–78 – – – –
1976–77 – – – –

Sponsorship

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Sponsorship Names

  • No sponsorship (1957–2011)
  • Rakaa league (2012–2013)
  • No sponsorship (2014–2020)
  • Yelo league (2021–present)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Official SAFF site in English
  2. ^ "Saudi Football History Documentation Project Concludes Groundbreaking 123‑Year Report". Saudi Arabia News Express. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  3. ^ "رياضي / إطلاق اسم سمو ولي العهد على دوري الدرجة الأولى لكرة القدم". Saudi Press Agency (in Arabic). 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  4. ^ "SAFF announces project to document history of Saudi football". Saudi Gazette. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  5. ^ ""PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو"".
  6. ^ "رابطة دوري يلو تُصدر لائحة الموسم الرياضي الجديد". Sabq (in Arabic). 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  7. ^ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
  8. ^ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
  9. ^ "بدء تنفيذ مشروع منشأة نادي الأنوار بتكلفة (60 مليون ريال)".
  10. ^ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
  11. ^ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
  12. ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
  13. ^ "Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
  14. ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  15. ^ ""ملعب جامعة الجوف" في أتم جاهزية بعد أعمال التطوير".
  16. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير نايف بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية".
  17. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
  18. ^ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
  19. ^ "مدينة الأمير محمد بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية".
  20. ^ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
  21. ^ "Storied history of football in Saudi Arabia celebrated through landmark collaboration project". FIFA. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  22. ^ "Saudi Arabia officially documents 123 years of football history". Saudi Gazette. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  23. ^ "AFC President congratulates SAFF on completion of historic football heritage project". Asian Football Confederation. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
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