Saudi Women's Premier League
The official logo
Founded15 September 2022 (2022-09-15)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSaudi Women's First Division League
Domestic cup(s)SAFF Women's Cup
Current championsAl-Nassr (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAl Nassr (1 title)
TV partnersSSC
Shahid
DAZN (outside MENA)
Websitewww.saff.com.sa
Current: 2023–24 Saudi Women's Premier League

The Saudi Women's Premier League (Arabic: الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات) is the top flight of women's association football in Saudi Arabia.[1] The competition is run by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

History

Logo of the league until 2022

The first Saudi women's club were King's United based in Jeddah,[2] and Eastern Flames in Dhahran. Both were formed in 2006. Other women's teams were formed after in Riyadh and Dammam. In 2008, the first Saudi women's tournament was held with the participation of seven teams. In December 2019, the Jeddah Women's Football League was held, which was the first women competition organized by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation; it was won by Jeddah Eagles.[3]

In February 2020, Saudi Arabia decided to launch a football league[4] for women throughout the country.[5] On 17 November 2020, the national league was launched with 24 teams; it was divided into three regions, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam which represent the Women's Community Football League, and the four best teams qualified to the WFL Champions Cup.[6] Challenge Sports Club won the first edition.[7]

In October 2023, the Saudi Women's Premier League partnered with DAZN, giving them rights to stream the league's matches worldwide.[8] This move reflects the league's major advancements in recent years.

Clubs

The following eight clubs are competing in the 2023–24 season:

TeamLocationGroundCapacity2022-23 Season
Al-AhliJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium62,3456th
Al-HilalRiyadhInaya Medical Colleges Stadium15,0002nd
Al-NassrRiyadhMrsool Park25,0001st
Al-QadsiahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium15,000D1, 2nd
Al-RiyadhRiyadhPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium15,000D1, 1st
Al-ShababRiyadhPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium22,1883rd
Al-IttihadJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium62,3454th
Eastern FlamesDammamPrince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium26,0007th

Champions

By season

Season Winners Runners-up Third place Top goalscorer Goals
2022–23Al NassrAl HilalAl-ShababIraq Shokhan Salihi (Al Hilal)43

By team

Club Winners Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Al Nassr 1 0 2022–23
Al Hilal 0 1 2022–23

Records

Top scorers

Rank Player Goals Apps Ratio Position First goal Last goal Ref.
1 Iraq Shokhan Salihi 49 21 2.33 Forward 2022–23 2023–24
2 Morocco Ibtissam Jraïdi 25 16 1.56 Forward 2022–23 2023–24
3 Bahrain Hessa Al-Isa 15 Forward 2022–23 2022–23
Egypt Noha Tarek 15 Forward 2022–23 2022–23
5 Jordan Maysa Jbarah 13 Forward 2022–23 2023–24
6 Saudi Arabia Daliah Abu Laban 11 21 0.52 Forward 2022–23 2023–24
Ghana Elizabeth Addo 11 Forward 2022–23 2023–24
8 Saudi Arabia Seba Tawfiq 9 19 0.47 Midfielder 2022–23 2023–24
Iraq Zainab Al-Lami 9 Midfielder 2022–23 2022–23

Former top league Champions

The list of champions and runners-up:

Year Champions Runners-up
Women's Community Football League
2020–21 Challenge SC Jeddah Eagles LFC
SAFF Women's National Football Championship
2021–22 Al Nassr Al Hilal
  • Al Hilal (ex. Challenge SC)
  • Al-Ittihad Jeddah (ex. Jeddah Eagles LFC)

References

  1. ↑ Diamond, Drew (29 February 2020). "Saudi Arabia form Women's Football League". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Saudi female athletes challenge Muslim norms". espn. Barbara Surk. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Jeddah Eagles flying high with women's football win". Arab News. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Naidu, Dr Unnati (3 January 2022). "Saudi Arabia: First women's football league from fan's perspective". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. Ivana Kottasová & Chandler Thornton. 27 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "الدوري السعودي النسائي". saudileague.com. Muhammad Aamer. 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Challenge Team First Winner Of The Saudi WFL". sportsforall.com. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "DAZN further invests in women's football with deal to broadcast Saudi Women's Premier League | DAZN News US". DAZN. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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