The Saudi Pro League, also known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) due to sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of football league in the Saudi league system. It usually takes place from August to May each year. There are a total of 39 clubs that participate in the top tier of Saudi football. Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad have never been relegated. Al-Hilal has won the most championships, followed by Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad. This blog post provides a detailed overview of the history, rules, and Saudi Pro League standings.
Saudi Pro League History: How the Big Football League Generated
The Saudi Pro League‘s origins date back to the late 1950s. At that time, football in Saudi Arabia was mainly organized on a regional basis, with the King’s Cup being the only national tournament. In 1957, the first qualifiers brought together regional championships, allowing clubs to compete in regional leagues for a chance to enter the King’s Cup.
In 1974, a one-time league was created to end the regional leagues and decide which clubs could participate in the upcoming Super League and First Division League. The Super League started in the 1976-77 season with 8 teams, which later increased to 10. In the 1981-82 season, the Saudi Super League merged with the First Division League, with 20 teams split into Group A and Group B, where the top two teams advanced to the semifinals.
In 1990, the Saudi Football Association decided to combine the league with the King’s Cup, launching the “League Cup of the Two Holy Mosques.” This tournament included a regular round-robin stage followed by knockout rounds. The league later experienced semi-professionalization and became fully professional in 2007, gradually becoming one of Asia’s top leagues.
Starting in 2024, Saudi Arabia will have three teams qualify for the AFC Champions League each year: the top three teams in the league and the King’s Cup champion. This system further enhances the competitiveness and influence of the Saudi Pro League.
Competition Format
The Saudi Pro League has 18 teams that play in a double round-robin format. During a season, which usually runs from August to May, each team plays every other team twice—once at home and once away—making a total of 34 matches. A team earns 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked on the league table based on points, then head-to-head results if teams are tied, and finally goal difference.
The three lowest-ranked teams in the Saudi Pro League will be relegated to the First Division. The top two teams from the First Division will be promoted directly to the Saudi Pro League, while the third team will be decided through playoffs. The teams ranked third to sixth will participate in these playoffs. The fifth-ranked team will play against the fourth-ranked team, and the sixth-ranked team will face the third-ranked team. The final match will be a single game hosted by the higher-ranked team.
Each club can have a total of 30 players, including 10 foreign players. Among the foreign players, 8 can be of any age, while 2 must be under 20 at the time of signing. Of the 20 Saudi players, 15 can be of any age, and 5 can be recruited from the youth team if needed. For each league match, the manager can choose 8 foreign players from the 10 available to join the team.
Saudi Pro League Champions
As of 2024, a total of 39 clubs have participated in the Saudi Pro League. Only three clubs have never been relegated: Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad.
Al-Hilal holds the record for the most championships, with 19 titles. Following them are Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, each with 9 championships. Al-Shabab is next, having won the title 6 times.
|
# |
Club |
Winners |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Al-Hilal |
19 |
13 |
|
2 |
Al-Ittihad |
9 |
8 |
|
3 |
Al-Nassr |
9 |
8 |
|
4 |
Al-Shabab |
6 |
6 |
|
5 |
Al-Ahli |
3 |
9 |
|
6 |
Al-Ettifaq |
2 |
3 |
|
7 |
Al-Fateh |
1 |
0 |
|
8 |
Al-Riyadh |
0 |
1 |
Statistical date: 23 October 2024
Saudi Pro League Top Scorers
Majed Abdullah is the all-time top scorer. He spent his entire club career at Al-Nassr, scoring 189 league goals in 21 years. He also holds the record for the most Golden Boots.
Nasser Al-Shamrani is the second highest scorer, but he is 22 goals behind Abdullah. He has played for Al-Wehda, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad.
Abderrazak Hamdallah is a standout player in recent years. He joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on August 23, 2018. He made his debut against Al-Qadisiyah and scored 34 goals in the 2018-19 season.
Another notable mention is Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 35 goals for Al-Nassr in the 2023/24 season, making him one of the top scorers that season.
|
Rank |
Player |
Goals |
Apps |
Ratio |
First |
Last |
Club(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Majed Abdullah |
189 |
194 |
0.97 |
1977 |
1997 |
Al-Nassr |
|
2 |
Nasser Al-Shamrani |
167 |
301 |
0.55 |
2003 |
2019 |
Al-Wehda, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad |
|
3 |
Omar Al-Somah |
144 |
180 |
0.80 |
2014 |
2022 |
Al-Ahli |
|
4 |
Abderrazak Hamdallah |
130 |
138 |
0.94 |
2018 |
2024 |
Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab |
|
5 |
Fahd Al-Hamdan |
120 |
252 |
0.48 |
1984 |
2000 |
Al-Riyadh |
|
6 |
Yasser Al-Qahtani |
112 |
206 |
0.54 |
2000 |
2018 |
Al-Qadsiah, Al-Hilal |
|
7 |
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi |
111 |
257 |
0.43 |
2005 |
2022 |
Al-Qadsiah, Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun |
|
8 |
Sami Al-Jaber |
101 |
268 |
0.38 |
1988 |
2007 |
Al-Hilal |
|
9 |
Hamzah Idris |
96 |
– |
– |
1992 |
2007 |
Ohod, Al-Ittihad |
|
10 |
Obeid Al-Dosari |
91 |
– |
– |
1996 |
2005 |
Al-Wehda, Al-Ahli |
Saudi Pro League Standings 2024/25
Currently, Al Hilal has played 7 matches and has not lost any, placing them first with 21 points. Following them is Al Ittihad, which has lost only once and is in second place with 18 points. In third place is Al Nassr, with 17 points. However, Al Nassr can surpass Al Ittihad with just one more win, as both teams have an equal goal difference of 12.
|
Rank |
Clubs |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Al Hilal |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
6 |
+15 |
21 |
|
2 |
Al Ittihad |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
20 |
8 |
+12 |
18 |
|
3 |
Al Nassr |
7 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
16 |
4 |
+12 |
17 |
|
4 |
Al Riyadh |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
13 |
|
5 |
Al Shabab |
7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
+1 |
12 |
|
6 |
Al Taawoun |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
6 |
+3 |
11 |
|
7 |
Al Ahli |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
11 |
7 |
+4 |
10 |
|
8 |
Al Qadsiah |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
+1 |
10 |
|
9 |
Al Ettifaq |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
-2 |
10 |
|
10 |
Al Orobah |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
-3 |
10 |
|
11 |
Al Raed |
7 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
8 |
+3 |
8 |
|
12 |
Damac |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
-2 |
7 |
|
13 |
Al Khaleej |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
7 |
|
14 |
Al Wehda |
7 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
-8 |
6 |
|
15 |
Al Kholood |
7 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
13 |
-5 |
5 |
|
16 |
Al Fayha |
7 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
15 |
-10 |
5 |
|
17 |
Al Okhdood |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
12 |
-6 |
4 |
|
18 |
Al Fateh |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
-8 |
4 |
Statistical date: 23 October 2024
GLOSSARY
GP: Games Played L: Losses GD: Goal Difference P: Points W: Wins F: Goals For D: Draws A: Goals Against
Conclusion
The Saudi Pro League, also known as the Roshn Saudi League, is the top football league in Saudi Arabia, running from August to May with 39 participating clubs. Its history dates back to the late 1950s, evolving from regional competitions to a fully professional league by 2007. The league features 18 teams playing in a double round-robin format, with points awarded for wins and draws. The bottom three teams are relegated, while the top clubs qualify for the AFC Champions League. Al-Hilal leads with 19 championships, followed by Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr with 9 titles each.
