UAE Pro League

The UAE Pro League is the top tier of the football system in United Arab Emirates founded in 1973. Since 2008, the league is commonly known as the Etisalat Pro-League.

The league title is contested by 12 clubs usually from September to May. In 2012/13 season, the league would contain 14 clubs. Each club plays 22 matches a season on a home and away basis. The three best teams of the season qualify for the AFC Champions League for the next season. Two teams that finish bottom at the end of a season are classed down to the UAE Division 2 Group A, meanwhile the two top clubs from the UAE Division 1 Group receive direct promotion to the top flight.

Al Sharjah became the first club to taste the UAE Pro League honors in an inaugural 1973/74 season. However, Al-Ain established themselves as the most titled club for the date, as they won the Pro-League 10 times. Moreover, it is Al-Ain who introduced the top goalscorers to the league. They are José Sand with 23 goals in the 2009/10 season and Asamoah Gyan with 22 in the 2011/12 campaign.