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Saudi Pro League

The Saudi Pro League (SPL), officially known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the top tier of professional men’s association football in Saudi Arabia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Saudi Pro League (SPL), officially known as the Roshn Saudi League, is the top tier of professional men's association football in Saudi Arabia. Governed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, it is the highest level of the Saudi football league system. The league currently features 18 clubs and operates from late August to May. Canadian readers may recognize the Saudi Pro League through international media coverage, particularly since the league has attracted globally known players and coaches in recent years.

History

The modern Saudi Pro League is generally traced to league competition that began in 1976, while some sources note the competition was rebranded as the Saudi Pro League in 2008.

Format

The league operates as a double round-robin competition, with each club playing every other club twice, once at home and once away. The standard points system is three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.

Promotion and relegation

The clubs finishing at the bottom of the table are relegated to the Saudi First Division League, while the top clubs from that division are promoted to the SPL.

Notable clubs

Al-Hilal, Al Nassr FC, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli are frequently identified as major or historically prominent clubs in the competition.

Key facts

  • The Saudi Pro League is the premier men's professional football competition in Saudi Arabia.
  • It is commonly abbreviated as SPL and also known as the Roshn Saudi League.
  • The competition currently features 18 clubs playing a home-and-away round-robin schedule.
  • At season's end, the bottom three clubs are relegated to the Saudi First Division League and the top three are promoted.
  • Al-Hilal is the most successful club in Saudi football league history.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may recognize the Saudi Pro League through international media coverage, particularly since the league has attracted globally known players and coaches in recent years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Saudi Pro League?
It is Saudi Arabia's top-tier professional men's football league, also known as the Roshn Saudi League.
How many teams are in the league?
The league currently has 18 clubs.
When does the season run?
The season usually runs from late August to May.
How is the champion decided?
The club with the most points at the end of the season wins the title.
What happens to the lowest-ranked teams?
The bottom three clubs are relegated to the Saudi First Division League, and three clubs are promoted in their place.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Pro_League
    Supports: Top-tier league, SPL naming, governance by Saudi Arabian Football Federation
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saudi-Pro-League
    Supports: League level, established in 2008 rebrand, 18 clubs, season timing, promotion/relegation, Al-Hilal success
  3. Saudi Pro League — https://www.spl.com.sa/en/about
    Supports: Official league description and AFC recognition
  4. Goal — https://www.goal.com/en-sa/saudi-pro-league/ea0h6cf3bhl698hkxhpulh2zz
    Supports: Current team count
  5. BBC Newsround — https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66256334
    Supports: 18 clubs, season format, major clubs
  6. FOX Sports — https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/saudi-pro-league-everything-you-should-know-for-2023-24-season
    Supports: League formation year, current club count, season timing, promotion/relegation