UAE Pro League
Season2023–24
Dates18 August 2023 – 25 May 2024
Matches played84
Goals scored296 (3.52 per match)
Top goalscorerKodjo Laba
(11 goals)
Biggest home winShabab Al Ahli 7–0 Emirates
(8 December 2023)
Biggest away winHatta 0–5 Al Wasl
(27 October 2023)
Highest scoringEmirates 4–4 Ajman
(25 August 2023)
Ajman 3–5 Kalba
(29 September 2023)
Longest winning runAl Ain
Al Wasl
Shabab Al Ahli
(4 games)
Longest unbeaten runAl Wasl
(12 games)
Longest winless runEmirates
(8 games)
Longest losing runEmirates
(8 games)
2024–25 →

The 2023–24 UAE Pro League is the 49th edition of the UAE Pro League. Shabab Al Ahli are the defending champions.

Teams

Team changes

Hatta secured promotion to the pro league after a decisive 3–2 victory over Al Rams.[1] Hatta are returning after two seasons of absence. Emirates would secure promotion on the second last matchday after winning 4–3 against Al Rams, coincidentally the same club Hatta beat. This will be Emirates 10th season in the Pro League.[2]

Relegated to the First Division

Al Dhafra got relegated after losing to Ajman 2–1. This marks the fourth time Al Dhafra got relegated in the top flight with the last time being in 2010–11 season. Dibba Al Fujairah soon followed after drawing 1–1 to Al Dhafra, ending their short spell in the Pro League a year after Dibba Al Fujairah got promoted as division 1 champions.[3]

Stadium and locations

Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Team Home city Stadium Capacity
Ajman Ajman Ajman Stadium 5,537
Al Ain Al-Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium 25,965
Al Bataeh Al Bataeh Al Bataeh Stadium 2,000
Al Jazira Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium 42,056
Al Nasr Dubai (Al Nasr) Al-Maktoum Stadium 15,058
Al Wahda Abu Dhabi (Al Nahyan) Al Nahyan Stadium 12,201
Al Wasl Dubai (Zabeel) Zabeel Stadium 8,439
Baniyas Abu Dhabi (Al Shamkha) Baniyas Stadium 10,000
Emirates Ras Al Khaimah Emirates Club Stadium 5,200
Hatta Hatta Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium 5,000
Kalba Kalba Ittihad Kalba Stadium 8,500
Khor Fakkan Khor Fakkan SBM Al Qassimi Stadium 7,500
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (Deira) Al-Rashid Stadium 12,052
Sharjah Sharjah Sharjah Stadium 20,000

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Head Coach Captain Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
Ajman Romania Daniel Isăilă United Arab Emirates Saoud Saeed Adidas Ajman Bank
Al Ain Argentina Hernán Crespo United Arab Emirates Bandar Al-Ahbabi Nike First Abu Dhabi Bank
Al Bataeh Croatia Goran Tomić United Arab Emirates Mohamed Ahmed Nike Majid Al Futtaim Group
Al Jazira Romania Mirel Rădoi United Arab Emirates Ali Khasif Zat Outfit Healthpoint
Al Nasr Netherlands Alfred Schreuder United Arab Emirates Ahmed Shambih Adidas Emirates Islamic
Al Wahda Netherlands Arno Buitenweg[lower-alpha 1] Brazil Allan Adidas Volkswagen
Al Wasl Serbia Miloš Milojević United Arab Emirates Ali Salmeen Macron Dubai Real Estate Centre
Baniyas Slovenia Darko Milanič United Arab Emirates Fawaz Awana Macron ADIB
Emirates Italy Walter Zenga Spain Andrés Iniesta uhlsport RAK Ceramics
Hatta Italy Fabio Viviani Slovakia Vernon De Marco uhlsport Emaar
Kalba Iran Farhad Majidi United Arab Emirates Abdusalam Mohammed Adidas Caltex
Khor Fakkan Montenegro Nebojša Jovović United Arab Emirates Masoud Sulaiman Macron ADNOC
Shabab Al Ahli Serbia Marko Nikolić United Arab Emirates Majed Naser Nike Mai Dubai
Sharjah Romania Cosmin Olăroiu United Arab Emirates Shahin Abdulrahman Adidas SAIF Zone

Foreign players

All teams can register many foreigners as they want but could only include up to five professional players. Players in the age of under-23 do not counted as professional.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former players
Ajman Bahrain Ali Madan Republic of the Congo Prestige Mboungou Serbia Miloš Kosanović Tunisia Haykeul Chikhaoui Tunisia Nader Ghandri Morocco Walid Azaro
Al Ain Israel Omer Atzili Morocco Soufiane Rahimi Paraguay Kaku South Korea Park Yong-woo Togo Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
Al Bataeh Brazil Paulinho Cameroon Anatole Abang Cameroon Petrus Boumal Cape Verde Diney Ivory Coast Ulrich Meleke
Al Jazira Brazil Fernando Democratic Republic of the Congo Neeskens Kebano Mauritania Aboubakar Kamara Netherlands Karim Rekik Spain Alejandro Pozuelo
Al Nasr Bosnia and Herzegovina Samir Memišević Colombia Kevin Agudelo Italy Manolo Gabbiadini Morocco Adel Taarabt Portugal Iuri Medeiros
Al Wahda Argentina Cristian Guanca Brazil Allan Iran Ahmad Nourollahi Russia Zelimkhan Bakayev Syria Omar Khribin Brazil João Pedro
Al Wasl Argentina Nicolás Giménez Argentina Gerónimo Poblete Colombia Alexis Pérez Morocco Soufiane Bouftini Switzerland Haris Seferovic
Baniyas Albania Taulant Seferi Argentina Gastón Álvarez Suárez Mali Youssoufou Niakaté Serbia Saša Ivković Portugal Francisco Geraldes
Emirates Cameroon Franck Kom Japan Leo Osaki Serbia Uroš Vitas Spain Paco Alcácer Spain Andrés Iniesta Brazil Diogo Acosta
Libya Al Sanousi Al Hadi
Hatta Democratic Republic of the Congo Aaron Tshibola Kazakhstan Alexander Merkel Slovakia Vernon De Marco Sweden Moustafa Zeidan Brazil Gabrielzinho
Kuwait Shabaib Al-Khaldi
Kalba Brazil Daniel Bessa Brazil Wallace Iran Mehdi Ghayedi Slovakia Filip Kiss Slovenia Andrés Vombergar Cape Verde Ivanildo Fernandes
Khor Fakkan Brazil Lourency Brazil Raniel South Africa Thulani Serero Uzbekistan Abdulla Abdullaev Uzbekistan Azizbek Amanov Brazil Pedro Castro
Brazil Tiago Leonço
Tunisia Saîf-Eddine Khaoui
Shabab Al Ahli Argentina Federico Cartabia Israel Mu'nas Dabbur Serbia Luka Milivojević Serbia Bogdan Planić Uzbekistan Azizjon Ganiev
Sharjah Bosnia and Herzegovina Miralem Pjanić Brazil Caio Mali Moussa Marega Tunisia Firas Ben Larbi Greece Kostas Manolas
Spain Paco Alcácer

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Manner of departure Pos. Incoming manager Date of appointment
Al Wasl Spain Juan Antonio Pizzi[4] 16 May 2023 Mutual consent Pre-season Serbia Miloš Milojević[5] 2 June 2023
Al Bataeh Morocco Saeed Shakhit 25 May 2023 End of caretaker spell Romania Mirel Rădoi 25 May 2023
Al Jazira Netherlands Marcel Keizer[6] 26 May 2023 End of contract Netherlands Frank de Boer 5 June 2023
Al Ain Ukraine Serhiy Rebrov[7] 27 May 2023 Netherlands Alfred Schreuder[8] 27 May 2023
Hatta United Arab Emirates Abdullah Mesfer[9] 1 June 2023 Mutual consent Serbia Željko Markov[10] 6 June 2023
Shabab Al Ahli Portugal Leonardo Jardim[11] End of contract Serbia Marko Nikolić 2 June 2023
Baniyas Romania Daniel Isăilă Slovenia Darko Milanič 8 June 2023
Al Nasr Croatia Goran Tomić[12] 5 June 2023 Serbia Goran Tufegdžić[13] 5 June 2023
Ajman Serbia Goran Tufegdžić Signed by Al Nasr Brazil Caio Zanardi 6 June 2023
Al Wahda Netherlands Arno Buitenweg 18 June 2023 End of caretaker spell South Africa Pitso Mosimane[14] 18 June 2023
Hatta Serbia Željko Markov 4 September 2023 Sacked 13th Italy Fabio Viviani[15] 5 September 2023
Emirates United Arab Emirates Mohammed Al Jalboot 5 September 2023 Mutual consent 10th Spain Lluís Planagumà[16]
Khor Fakkan United Arab Emirates Abdulaziz Al Anberi 24 September 2023 10th Spain Gerard Zaragoza 29 September 2023
Ajman Brazil Caio Zanardi[17] 3 October 2023 Sacked 13th Romania Daniel Isăilă 3 October 2023
Khor Fakkan Spain Gerard Zaragoza 28 October 2023 12th Montenegro Nebojša Jovović[18] 29 October 2023
Al Nasr Serbia Goran Tufegdžić[19] 6 November 2023 10th Italy Fabrizio Cammarata 6 November 2023
Al Ain Netherlands Alfred Schreuder[20] 8 November 2023 Mutual consent 3rd Argentina Hernán Crespo[21] 14 November 2023
Al Wahda South Africa Pitso Mosimane[22] 9 November 2023 Sacked 5th Netherlands Arno Buitenweg 9 November 2023
Al Nasr Italy Fabrizio Cammarata 27 November 2023 End of caretaker spell 9th Netherlands Alfred Schreuder[23] 27 November 2023
Al Jazira Netherlands Frank de Boer[24] 13 December 2023 Sacked 7th Netherlands Bob de Klerk 14 December 2023
Emirates Spain Lluís Planagumà[25] 21 December 2023 14th United Arab Emirates Aaref Al Shehhi 21 December 2023
Al Bataeh Romania Mirel Rădoi[26] 25 December 2023 Resigned 7th Croatia Goran Tomić[27] 7 January 2024
Al Jazira Netherlands Bob de Klerk 5 January 2024 End of caretaker spell 6th Romania Mirel Rădoi[28] 5 January 2024
Emirates United Arab Emirates Aaref Al Shehhi 14th Italy Walter Zenga[29]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Al Wasl 12 9 3 0 33 15 +18 30 Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite League stage
2 Al Ain 12 8 1 3 30 15 +15 25 Qualification for AFC Champions League 2 group stage
3 Shabab Al Ahli 12 7 3 2 28 14 +14 24
4 Sharjah 12 6 4 2 30 18 +12 22
5 Al Wahda 12 6 2 4 20 16 +4 20[lower-alpha 2]
6 Al Jazira 12 6 2 4 26 21 +5 20[lower-alpha 2]
7 Al Bataeh 12 4 4 4 16 19 −3 16
8 Baniyas 12 5 1 6 17 23 −6 16
9 Al Nasr 12 4 3 5 17 18 −1 15
10 Khor Fakkan 12 4 1 7 20 27 −7 13
11 Kalba 12 3 3 6 20 25 −5 12
12 Ajman 12 2 5 5 18 28 −10 11
13 Hatta 12 1 2 9 9 26 −17 5[lower-alpha 3] Relegation to UAE Division 1
14 Emirates 12 1 2 9 14 33 −19 5[lower-alpha 3]
Updated to match(es) played on 24 December 2023. Source: UPLeague
Rules for classification: [30] 1) points; 2) head-to-head goal difference; 3) head-to-head goals scored; 4) head-to-head away goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) number of away goals scored; 8) head-to-head points; 9) fair play ranking[31] 10) draw
Notes:
  1. ↑ Caretaker
  2. 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Al Wahda +1, Al Jazira –1.
  3. 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Hatta +2, Emirates –2.

Results

Home \ Away AJM AIN BTH JAZ NAS WAH WAS YAS EMI HAT KAL KHF SAD SHR
Ajman 0–3 0–1 1–1 3–5 0–3
Al Ain 6–0 0–2 3–2 3–1 4–1 a
Al Bataeh 1–1 1–3 2–1 0–0 3–1 0–2 3–3
Al Jazira 1–5 3–1 1–2 2–4 3–1 1–1 1–1
Al Nasr 1–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 a 2–1 0–1
Al Wahda a 1–2 a 2–2 4–1 1–0 2–1
Al Wasl 1–1 3–1 4–1 a 3–2 1–0 2–1 a
Baniyas 1–4 4–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–2
Emirates 4–4 0–1 2–4 2–4 1–3
Hatta 0–2 0–0 0–3 0–5 0–1 1–4
Kalba 2–2 0–4 0–0 2–1 1–3 3–4
Khor Fakkan 1–2 4–2 3–1 3–2 3–3 0–2 2–1
Shabab Al Ahli 0–3 3–3 3–1 1–2 7–0 2–1
Sharjah 1–1 2–3 1–3 5–0 4–1 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 24 December 2023. Source: UPLeague
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Number of teams by Emirates

Emirate Number of teams Teams
1 Emirate of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi 4 Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Wahda and Baniyas
Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah Sharjah, Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Al Bataeh
Emirate of Dubai Dubai Shabab Al Ahli, Al Nasr, Al Wasl and Hatta
4 Emirate of Ajman Ajman 1 Ajman
Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah Emirates

Season statistics

Positions by round

Leader and qualification to AFC Champions League Elite
qualification to AFC Champions League 2
Relegation to UAE First Division League
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Al Wasl7333321111111
Al Ain421121322332
Shabab Al Ahli112213233223
Sharjah396554456444
Al Wahda11756106544555
Al Jazira264445685766
Al Bataeh6481177778677
Baniyas9598611867888
Al Nasr1314141298109101299
Khor Fakkan5810912991111101210
Kalba81111108101110991011
Ajman141212131313141212111112
Hatta101313141414131414141313
Emirates1210771112121313131414
Updated to match(es) played on 9 December 2023. Source: UPLeague

Top scorers

As of 24 December 2023[32]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Togo Kodjo Laba Al Ain 11
2 Syria Omar Khribin Al Wahda 9
3 United Arab Emirates Fábio Lima Al Wasl 8
United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira
5 Brazil Caio Sharjah 7
Italy Manolo Gabbiadini Al Nasr
7 Albania Taulant Seferi Baniyas 6
Brazil Lourency Khor Fakkan
Iran Mehdi Ghayedi Kalba
Switzerland Haris Seferovic Al Wasl

Top assists

As of 24 December 2023[32]
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Argentina Nicolás Giménez Al Wasl 9
2 United Arab Emirates Erik Al Ain 5
Iran Mehdi Ghayedi Al Wahda
3 Bahrain Ali Madan Ajman 4
Brazil Daniel Bessa Kalba
Israel Omer Atzili Al Ain
Mali Sékou Gassama Al Bataeh
Morocco Adel Taarabt Al Nasr
Spain Alejandro Pozuelo Al Jazira
United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout
United Arab Emirates Ali Saleh Al Wasl

Clean sheets

As of 24 December 2023
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 United Arab Emirates Ahmed Shambih Al Nasr 4
2 United Arab Emirates Fahad Al-Dhanhani Baniyas 3
United Arab Emirates Khalid Eisa Al Ain
4 United Arab Emirates Suhail Abdulla Emirates 2
United Arab Emirates Adel Al-Hosani Sharjah
United Arab Emirates Khaled Al-Senani Al Wasl
United Arab Emirates Ibrahim Essa Al Bataeh
United Arab Emirates Hassan Hamza Shabab Al Ahli
United Arab Emirates Eisa Hooti Kalba
10 United Arab Emirates Mohamed Al-Shamsi Al Wahda 1
United Arab Emirates Rashed Ali
United Arab Emirates Rakan Al-Menhali Al Jazira
United Arab Emirates Ali Khasif
United Arab Emirates Ibrahim Essa Al Bataeh
United Arab Emirates Salem Khairi Hatta
United Arab Emirates Majed Naser Shabab Al Ahli

Hat tricks

Player For Against Result Date Round
Morocco Walid Azaro Ajman Kalba 3–5 (H) 29 September 2023 4
Brazil Lourency Khor Fakkan Al Wahda 3–2 (H) 29 December 2023 12

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "حتا.. «الصعود 4» بسرعة «الإعصار»" (in Arabic). Al Ittihad. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
    2. ↑ "حتا بطل الهواة والصقور يحلق للأضواء وهيسبانا يهبط للثانية" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    3. ↑ "دبا الفجيرة يودع «الأضواء» بدموع الندم والحسرة" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
    4. ↑ "الشعفار: بيتزي لن يستمر مع الوصل" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
    5. ↑ "صحيفة صربية: مدرب 40 سنة يقود الوصل الموسم المقبل" (in Arabic). Emaratalyoum. June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
    6. ↑ "كايزر يودع الجزيرة بعد 4 مواسم و94 مباراة" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
    7. ↑ "ريبيروف يعلن رحيله رسمياً عن العين" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
    8. ↑ "العين يعلن تعاقده مع شرودر" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
    9. ↑ "عبد الله مسفر يرحل عن حتا" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
    10. ↑ "الصربي زيلكو مدربا لنادي حتا" (in Arabic). Koora. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
    11. ↑ John McAuley (22 May 2023). "Leonardo Jardim to leave Shabab Al Ahli after leading club to Adnoc Pro League title". The National. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
    12. ↑ "النصر يودّع توميتش ويقترب من غوران" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
    13. ↑ "النصر يدخل مرحلة الصــربي غوران رسمياً" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
    14. ↑ "الوحدة يعلن رسمياً تعاقده مع المدرب بيتسو موسيماني" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
    15. ↑ "فيفياني يقود حتا في «المحطة الثالثة»" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
    16. ↑ "الإسباني راموس مدرباً لـ«الصقور»" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
    17. ↑ "عجمان.. أول تغيير مبكر للمدرب بعد 8 سنوات" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
    18. ↑ "Khorfakkan Club signs Jovović to lead the first football team". Sharjah24. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
    19. ↑ "النصر يقيل مدربه غوران بسبب سوء النتائج" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
    20. ↑ "العين الإماراتي يفك ارتباطه بالهولندي ألفريد شرودر" (in Arabic). Al Arab. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
    21. ↑ "الأرجنتيني كرسبو يصل الإمارات لاستكمال إجراءات تعاقده مع نادي العين" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    22. ↑ "الوحدة يقيل موسيماني والهولندي آرنو بويتنويغ مدرب الرديف بديلاً" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    23. ↑ "رسمياً.. الهولندي شرودر مدرباً للنصر" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
    24. ↑ "5 هزائم وراء إقالة فرانك دي بور من تدريب الجزيرة" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
    25. ↑ "7 هزائم متتالية تُقصي «بلاناغوما» من تدريب «الصقور»" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
    26. ↑ "بعد المباراة الأخيرة التي خسرها أمام ضيفه العين..رادوي يودع لاعبي البطائح" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
    27. ↑ "غوران مدرباً للبطائح" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
    28. ↑ "الروماني ميريل رادوي يقود الجزيرة" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    29. ↑ "زينغا: «الصقور» يستحق مركزاً أفضل في «المحترفين»" (in Arabic). Al Bayan. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
    30. ↑ "Article (15) P.50 of Arabian Gulf League Regulations" (PDF) (in Arabic). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
    31. ↑ "Fairplay - Arabian Gulf League". uae.agleague.ae. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
    32. 1 2 "UAE Pro League 2023/24 – Top Scorers & Top Assists". Soccerway.
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