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First Division League

Organising body	Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded	1976; 48 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 winning the King's Cup)
Current champions	Al-Qadsiah (4th titles) (2023–24 season)
Most championships	Hajer Al-Wehda Al-Qadsiah (4 titles each)
Top goalscorer	Ousmane Barry (108 goals)
TV partners	KSA SPORT
Website	fdl.sa
Current: 2024–25 First Division League

The First Division League (FDL; Arabic: دوري الدرجة الأولى), known as Yelo league for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The First Division League is ranked below the Saudi Pro League and above the Saudi Second Division League in the Saudi Arabian football league system.

History

The league was founded in 1976 along side 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

As of 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 along side 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, 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

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

Stadium and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

Champions

Champions and Runners-up

Note

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

Performance by club

Top scorers

As of the 2023–2024 season

Nat.	Top Scorers	Club	Season	Goals
	Mbaye Diagne	Al-Qadsiah	2023–2024	26
	Ablaye Mbengue	Al-Arabi	2022–2023	29
	Carolus Andria	Ohod	2021–2022	25
	Ibrahim Diomandé	Ohod	2020–2021	24
	Ousmane Barry	Al-Bukiryah	2019–2020	27
	Carolus Andria	Al-Adalah	2018–2019	22
	Mashari Al-Enezi	Al-Tai	2017–2018	21
	Abdulfattah Adam	Al-Jeel	2016–2017	20
	Abdulfattah Adam	Al-Jeel	2015–2016	20
	Mousa Madkhali	Al-Wehda	2014–2015	20
	Hamad Al-Juhaim	Al-Tai	2013–2014	20
	Mousa Madkhali	Hetten	2012–2013	22
	Younes Alaiwi	Al-Batin	2011–2012	21
	Hussain Al-Turki	Al-Khaleej	2010–2011	20
	Hussain Al-Turki	Al-Khaleej	2009–2010	16
	Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Al-helo	Al-Qadsiah Sdoos	2008–2009	15
	Khalid Al Rejaib	Hajer	2007–2008	9
	Al-Hasan Al-Yami	Najran	2006–2007	20
	Mubarak Al Khaleefah	Al-Khaleej	2005–2006	18
	Mohammed Abuarad	Abha	2004–2005	19
	Mohammed Abuarad	Abha	2003–2004	15
	Mohammed Abuarad	Abha	2002–2003	16
	Mohammed Manga	Sdoos	2001–2002	12
	Mohammed Abuarad	Abha	2000–2001	14
	Mohammed Harshan	Najran	1999–2000	11
	Mubarak Al Khaleefah	Al-Rawdhah	1998–1999	13
			1997–1998
	Mousa Sahab	Al-Taawoun	1996–1997
	Obeid Al-Dosari	Al-Wehda	1995–1996
	Yehey Jako	Al-Tai	1994–1995	11
	Khalid Al-Mansour	Al-Arabi	1993–1994	15
	Hamzah Idris	Ohod	1992–93	10
	Sulaiman Al Hadaithi Mohamed Al Khalifa Nasser Al-Qahtani	Al-Najma Hajer Al-Rawdhah	1991–1992	11
	Ahmed Al-Zaaq	Al-Taawoun	1990–1991	11
	Khalid Al-Mansour Hamzah Idris	Al-Arabi Ohod	1989–1990	11
	Khalid Al-Mansour	Al-Arabi	1988–1989	14
	Khalid Al-Mansour Fahd Al-Hamdan	Al-Arabi Al-Riyadh	1987–1988	11
	Khalid Al-Mansour	Al-Arabi	1986–1987	16
	Abdullah Al-Saab	Al-Fayha	1985–1986	8
	Walid Sharqi	Al-Ansar	1984–1985
	Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed	Damac	1983–1984	11
	Shaye Al-Nafisah	Al-Kawkab	1982–1983	12
-	-	-	1981–1982 First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.	-
	Abdullah Al-Mansour	Al-Taawoun	1980–1981	9
	Daran Al Daran	Al-Jabalain	1979–1980	16
			1978–1979
			1977–1978
			1976–1977

Sponsorship

• Yelo league (2021–Present)

See also

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

References

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

External links

• Saudi Arabia Football Federation
• Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com (Arabic)
• Saudi Arabia First Division - Hailoosport.com

v t e Football in Saudi Arabia
SAFF
National teams	Men Men's U-23 U-20 U-17 Women Women's U-20 U-17
International competitions	Women SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament
League competitions	Men Pro League First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Women Premier League First Division Second Division
Cup competitions	Men King Cup Super Cup Crown Prince Cup (defunct) Prince Faisal bin Fahd League U-21 (defunct) Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup (defunct) Women SAFF Cup
Other	Women's football Prince Faisal bin Fahd League U-21 Venues Clubs Clubs in Champions League
Clubs Players Foreign Pro League players Expatriate players Managers Referees Venues Seasons Records

• Saudi First Division League
• Football leagues in Saudi Arabia
• Second level football leagues in Asia
• Sports leagues established in 1976