Saudi First Division League
 | |
| Organising body | Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Pro League |
| Relegation to | Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | King Cup |
| Current champions |
Al-Ahli (1st title) (2022–23 season) |
| Most championships |
Hajer Al-Wehda (4 titles each) |
| TV partners | AlRiyadiyah |
| Current: 2023–24 First Division | |
The First Division League (FDL for short), also called the Yelo league for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The First Division League is ranked below the Saudi Professional League and above the Saudi Second Division in the Saudi Arabian football league system. All of the FDL clubs qualify for the King Cup, the annual Saudi Cup competition. Al-Ahli are the most recent champions, winning their first title during the 2022–23 season.
The number of clubs in the league has changed throughout history, most recently in the 2018–19 season, when the number of clubs increased from 16 to 20. Since the 2019–20 season, three clubs from the First Division are directly promoted to the Pro League; on the other hand, four clubs are directly relegated to the Second Division.
Hajer and Al-Wehda 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 Pro League, nine.
Promotion and relegation
The top three teams are promoted to the Professional League directly, while the bottom three teams are relegated to the Second Division.
List of teams (2022–23 season)
For details on the MS League 2022–23 season, see here.
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Adalah | Al-Hasa (Al-Hulaylah) |
Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium Al-Fateh Club Stadium |
26,000 7,000 |
| Al-Bukayriyah | Al Bukayriyah | Al-Bukayriyah Club Stadium | 3,000 |
| Al-Diriyah | Diriyah | Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh) | 15,000 |
| Al-Fayha | Al Majma'ah | Al Majma'ah Sports City | 7,000 |
| Al-Hazem | Ar Rass | Al-Hazem Club Stadium | 8,000 |
| Al-Jabalain | Ha'il | Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium | 12,000 |
| Al-Jeel | Al-Hasa (Hofuf) | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium Al-Fateh Club Stadium |
26,000 7,000 |
| Al-Kawkab | Al-Kharj | Al-Shoulla Club Stadium | 5,200 |
| Al-Khaleej | Saihat | Al-Khaleej Club Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al-Nahda | Dammam | Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium | 15,000 |
| Al-Nojoom | Al-Hasa (Al-Shuqaiq) | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium | 26,000 |
| Al-Sahel | Anak | Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) | 15,000 |
| Al-Shoulla | Al-Kharj | Al-Shoulla Club Stadium | 5,200 |
| Al-Tai | Ha'il | Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium | 12,000 |
| Al-Thoqbah | Khobar | Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium | 15,000 |
| Arar | Arar | Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium | 5,650 |
| Hajer | Al-Hasa (Hofuf) |
Hajer Club Stadium Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium |
12,000 26,000 |
| Jeddah | Jeddah | Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City | 1,000 |
| Najran | Najran | Najran Sport City Stadium | 18,000 |
| Ohod | Medina | Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium | 24,000 |
League rules
Since the 2018–19 season the number of foreign players in the league was increased from 3 to 7. Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.
Club performances
Promotions by season
- Note
- 1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82.
Performance by club
| Club | Winners | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Hajer |
4
|
1988, 1998, 2011, 2014 |
| Al-Wehda |
4
|
1983, 1996, 2003, 2018 |
| Al-Nahda |
3
|
1977, 1991, 1993 |
| Al-Tai |
3
|
1985, 1995, 2001 |
| Ohod |
3
|
1981, 1984, 2004 |
| Al-Qadsiah |
3
|
2002, 2009, 2015 |
| Al-Riyadh |
2
|
1978, 1989 |
| Al-Najma |
2
|
1990, 1994 |
| Al-Ansar |
2
|
1986, 2000 |
| Al-Raed |
2
|
1992, 2008 |
| Al-Hazem |
2
|
2005, 2021 |
| Al-Khaleej |
2
|
2006, 2022 |
| Al-Shabab |
1
|
1979 |
| Al-Jabalain |
1
|
1980 |
| Al-Kawkab |
1
|
1987 |
| Al-Taawoun |
1
|
1997 |
| Sdoos |
1
|
1999 |
| Al-Watani |
1
|
2007 |
| Al-Faisaly |
1
|
2010 |
| Al-Shoulla |
1
|
2012 |
| Al-Orobah |
1
|
2013 |
| Al-Ettifaq |
1
|
2016 |
| Al-Fayha |
1
|
2017 |
| Abha |
1
|
2019 |
| Al-Batin |
1
|
2020 |
| Al-Ahli |
1
|
2023 |
Top scorers
| Nat. | Top Scorers | Club | Season | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ablaye Mbengue | Al-Arabi | 2022–2023 | 29 | |
| Carolus Andria | Ohod Club | 2021–2022 | 25 | |
| Ibrahim Diomandé | Ohod Club | 2020–2021 | 24 | |
| Ousmane Barry | Al-Bukiryah FC | 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-Ta'ee | 2013–2014 | 20 | |
| Mousa Madkhali | Hetten | 2012–2013 | 22 | |
| Younes Alaiwi | Al-Batin | 2011–2012 | 21 | |
| Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2010–2011 | 20 | |
| Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2009–2010 | 16 | |
|
|
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Alhelo |
Al-Qadsiah Sdoos |
2008–2009 | 15 |
| Khalid Al Rejaib | Hajer | 2007–2008 | 9 | |
| Al Hasan Al-Yami | Najran | 2006–2007 | 20 | |
| Mubarak Al Khaleefah | 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-Ta'ee | 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 1First Division and Premier League were merged |
||||
| Abdullah Al-Mansour | Al-Taawoun | 1980–1981 | 9 | |
| Daran Al Daran | Al-Jabalain | 1979–1980 | 16 | |
| 1978–1979 | ||||
| 1977–1978 | ||||
| 1976–1977 |