Saudi Arabia Pro League: Dates, teams & history

Saudi Arabia caused a major stir on the domestic football scene last year by splashing the cash to attract several high-profile footballers to the Saudi Pro League.

Some of the biggest names in world football, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, moved to the Middle East last summer and though business has not been as sensational this time around, a collection of Europe's top players have made the switch to Saudi.

How does the Saudi Arabia Pro League work?

The league was expanded from 16 to 18 teams ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. 

Like in England, the three lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Saudi First Division, while the top two teams in the First Division are automatically promoted to the Pro League.

A play-off system consisting of teams placed third to sixth is used to determine which other side will win promotion.

At the top end of the table, the winner is decided by the usual format of most points after 34 rounds of matches, with head-to-head results and then head-to-head goal difference used to separate teams if they are on the same number of points. 

The top two teams qualify for the AFC Champions League.

Which big names are playing in the Saudi Arabia Pro League?

The competition has created plenty of headlines with its recent influx of foreign talent, with Ronaldo and Benzema the two headline acts.

The moves for two of football's biggest names opened the floodgates on more players taking up big-money offers to play in Saudi Arabia.

The quality of imports improved dramatically in 2023 with the likes of Neymar, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Edouard Mendy and Marcelo Brozovic making the move.

This summer we have witnessed Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby, Marseille's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Real Madrid's Nacho Fernandez all agree lucrative deals with Saudi Pro League clubs.

The temptation of a big payday doesn't stop at the players, with Al-Ettifaq being managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

Slaven Bilic, Jorge Jesus and Sabri Lamouchi are just several other notable managers plying their trade in the division.

There are currently no Saudi-born managers coaching top-flight clubs.

How many foreign players can play in the Saudi Arabia Pro League?

Under current regulations, Saudi Arabian clubs are only allowed to register eight foreign-born players over the course of a season. 

Some clubs have already filled their quota with Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Khaleej and Al-Nassr having named eight in their squads.

When does the 2024/25 Saudi Arabia Pro League season begin?

The new season gets underway at 17:10 BST on Thursday 22nd August when Al-Taawoun entertain Al Feiha.

It concludes on Monday 26th May 2025, with all 18 teams due to play on the final day.

When did the Saudi Arabia Pro League start?

Football in the country was largely regionalised and amateur until 1976 when the first professional, national league was established. 

The original competition only comprised eight teams with Al Hilal, Al Nasr, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Wahda, Al Qadisiya, Al Shabab and Al Riyadh contesting a league that was eventually won by Al Hilal.

How many times has the Saudi Arabia Pro League taken place?

The Saudi Arabia Pro League has run every season since 1976 and this season will mark the 48th edition of the competition. 

Which teams have won the Saudi Arabia Pro League the most?

Al Hilal are one of only three ever-presents in the Saudi top flight, along with Al Ittihad and Al-Nassr, but have enjoyed considerably more success, winning their 19th league title in 2023/24.

That's twice as many as Al Ittihad in second, while Al Nassr are third on the list with eight championships.

Who won last year's Saudi Arabia Pro League?

Al Hilal won their sixth Saudi Pro League title in eight years in undefeated fashion, winning 31 and drawing three of their 34 matches.

Jorge Jesus' outfit completed the domestic treble by winning the Kings Cup and Saudi Super Cup, though they fell agonisingly short of glory on the continental stage as they were defeated in the AFC Champions League semi-finals by UAE's Al Ain.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was a pivotal factor in their success, with the Serbian striker scoring 28 goals last term: only Cristiano Ronaldo scored more.

Saudi Pro League odds