Saudi Women's Premier League

The Saudi Women's Premier League, officially the SAFF Women's Premier League, is the top-tier Saudi women's league in the Saudi football league system.[1]

Saudi Women's Premier League
الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات
Organising bodySaudi Arabian Football Federation
Founded15 September 2022; 3 years ago (2022-09-15)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs8
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSaudi Women's First Division League
Domestic cup(s)SAFF Super Cup
SAFF Women's Cup
SAFF Challenge Cup
International cup(s)AFC Women's Champions League
WAFF Women's Clubs Championship
Current championsAl-Nassr (4th title)
(2025-26)
Most championshipsAl-Nassr (4 titles)
Top scorerMorocco Ibtissam Jraïdi
(74 Goals)
Broadcaster(s)List of broadcasters
Websitesaff.com.sa
Current: 2025–26 Saudi Women's Premier League

History

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Logo of the league until 2022

The first Saudi women's football clubs were King's United, based in Jeddah,[2] and Eastern Flames, based in Dhahran. Both were established in 2006. Other teams were later formed in Riyadh and Dammam. In 2008, the first women's football tournament in Saudi Arabia was held, featuring seven teams.

In December 2019, the Jeddah Women's Football League took place—the first women's competition organized by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. It was won by Jeddah Eagles.[3]

In February 2020, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a national football league for women,[4][5] which officially began on 17 November 2020. The inaugural edition featured 24 teams divided into three regional zones: Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. These zones formed the basis of the Women's Community Football League. The top four teams qualified for the WFL Champions Cup, which was won by Challenge Sports Club.[6][7]

On 24 July 2023, the Saudi Women's Premier League made its first appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup through the presence of Al-Ahli striker Ibtissam Jraïdi with the Morocco national team in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[8] Then, on July 30, she became the first player from the Saudi Women's Premier League to score a goal in the World Cup, against South Korea.[9]

In October 2023, the Saudi Women's Premier League partnered with DAZN, granting the platform global streaming rights for league matches.[10] The agreement marked a significant milestone in the league's development and global exposure.

On 14 December 2023, FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the match between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad at Prince Mohammed Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.[11]

On 23 December 2023, The Best FIFA Women's Player for 2021 and 2022, Spain's Alexia Putellas, attended the match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr at Al-Ittihad Club Stadium in Jeddah.[12]

In March 2024, Hiba Al-Qwaidi became the Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee, by officiating a match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Riyadh.[13]

In May 2024, Grass Valley announced a collaboration with the Saudi Pro League to distribute matches of the 2024–25 Saudi Women's Premier League through its digital platform.[14]

On 31 May 2024, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation renewed its exclusive sponsorship agreement with the Saudi National Bank for an additional three years. The agreement covers sponsorship of both the Saudi Women's Premier League and the SAFF Women's Cup.[15]

On 10 January 2025, Jorge Vilda, coach of the Spanish team that won the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, attended the match between Al-Ahli and Al-Amal at Prince Mohammed Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.[16]

In September 2025, the All Women Sport Network (AWSN) announced a partnership with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and SSC to broadcast the 2025–26 Saudi Women's Premier League matches globally. This agreement also included the launch of a 24-hour women's sports channel in Saudi Arabia, aiming to showcase professional women's sports at an international level.[17]

On 3 November 2025, Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak from Al-Hilal became the first player from the Saudi Women's Premier League to be included in the FIFPRO list for 2025.[18]

Following the closure of SSC in October 2025, MBC Group signed an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to broadcast the Saudi Women's Premier League matches across the Middle East and North Africa for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons.[19]

Current teams

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Champions

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Records

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All-time table

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Key
  Teams that have participated in every season since the league's inception.
  Teams currently competing in the league as of the 2025–26 season.
  Teams that participated in the past but are now defunct or have merged with other clubs.
Rnk Team Part. Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1Al-Nassr 460533423560+175162
2Al-Ahli 46034818196104+92110
3Al-Hilal 4603282017699+77104
4Al-Ittihad 46027112214590+5592
5Al-Shabab 3462581313266+6683
6Al-Qadsiah 34623121112854+7481
7Al-Ula 232134155271−1943
8Eastern Flames 460764766207−14127
9Al-Yamamah 1146354015+2521
10Al-Amal 11831142358−3510
11NEOM 1141310935−266
12Al-Riyadh 1140113879−711
13Al-Taraji 11800188108−1000
14Al-Bayraq 11400141173−1720

Top scorers

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Last Update Date — 24 April 2026
Rank Player Goals
1 Morocco Ibtissam Jraïdi 74
2 Iraq Shokhan Salihi 60
3 Tanzania Clara Luvanga 54
4 Democratic Republic of the Congo Naomie Kabakaba 44
5 Algeria Lina Boussaha 30
6 Cameroon Ajara Nchout 29
7 Venezuela Oriana Altuve 22
8 Brazil Letícia Nunes 22
9 Saudi Arabia Al-Bandary Mobarak 22
10 Brazil Duda Francelino 21

Seasonal statistics

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Saudi Women's Premier League's general statistics
SeasonTotal
Matches
WinScore
draw
Goalless
draw
Total
goals
Goals
ratio
1st half
Goals
2nd half
Goals
Yellow card Yellow
Cards
Red card Red
Cards
2022–23 5647633516.3 per match1761751548
2023–24 5646642244.0 per match1041191595
2024–25 9082353974.4 per match18321425212
2025–26 5649612474.4 per match1201271567
Total258224211312194.7 per match58363572132

Largest victories

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As of 24 April 2026
Biggest wins in Saudi Women's Premier League history
SeasonDateMatchScore
2022–23 13/10/2022Al-Bayraq – Al-Nassr0–18
12/11/2022Al-Bayraq – Al-Yamamah0–10
19/11/2022Al-Bayraq – Al-Hilal0–18
02/12/2022Eastern Flames – Al-Bayraq11–0
06/12/2022Al-Ittihad – Al-Bayraq11–0
17/12/2022Al-Nassr – Al-Bayraq11–0
30/12/2022Al-Bayraq – Al-Ittihad0–14
24/01/2023Al-Yamamah – Al-Bayraq13–0
31/01/2023Al-Hilal – Al-Bayraq18–0
11/02/2023Al-Shabab – Al-Bayraq19–0
2023–24 16/03/2024Al-Riyadh – Al-Ittihad2–13
19/04/2024Al-Riyadh – Al-Shabab1–10
2024–25 27/12/2024Al-Taraji – Al-Nassr0–11

Awards

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At the end of each season, individual awards are presented to players in recognition of their performances.

SeasonTop ScorerBest PlayerBest GoalkeeperBest young player
2022–23 Iraq Shokhan Salihi (HIL)43 goals Saudi Arabia Mubarkh Al-Saiari (NSR) Saudi Arabia Laila Al-Qahtani (YAM) Not awarded
2023–24 Morocco Ibtissam Jraïdi (AHL)17 goals Algeria Lina Boussaha (NSR) United States Lindsey Harris (QAD)
2024–25 26 goals France Léa Le Garrec (QAD) Slovenia Zala Meršnik (ITI) Saudi Arabia Sulaf Aseeri (QAD)
2025–26 Tanzania Clara Luvanga (NSR)24 goals Saudi Arabia Mona Abdulrahman (NSR) Saudi Arabia Lamar Balkhudher (ITI)

Former top league champions

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Before the launch of the Saudi Women's Premier League, two leagues were established to test and set things up, laying the foundation for the top-tier competition. These leagues served as crucial stepping stones, refining the structure and ensuring the success of the premier league.

The list of champions and runners-up:

Year Champions Runners-up Ref
Women's Community Football League
2020–21
SAFF Women's National Football Championship
2021–22

Sponsorship

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Sponsor(s)Period
Ref
2023–present
2024–present

Broadcasters

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Region Broadcaster Period Ref.
2023–2025
2025–present
MBC Shahid (streaming)
2023–present
2024–present
2024–present
2025–present

See also

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References

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  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. "ظهور أول لاعبة من الدوري السعودي في مونديال السيدات" [First appearance of a player from the Saudi League in the Women's World Cup.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  9. "السعودية تفتخر بهدف المغربية جرايدي في مونديال السيدات" [Saudi Arabia is proud of Moroccan player Jraïdi's goal in the Women's World Cup.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). 30 July 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  10. "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.
  11. "حضور إنفانتينو يؤكد استمرار دعم الكرة النسائية السعودية" [Infantino's presence confirms the continued support for Saudi women's football.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  12. "لاعبة برشلونة تشهد قمة الدوري السعودي للسيدات" [Barcelona player witnesses the summit of the Saudi Women's League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  13. "Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women's Premier League's first female referee". Arab News. 23 March 2024.
  14. "الدوري السعودي للسيدات يدخل مرحلة جديدة في البث التلفزيوني" [The Saudi Women's League enters a new phase in television broadcasting.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. "كرة القدم النسائية في السعودية تواصل الازدهار" [The Women's football in Saudi Arabia continues to flourish.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. "الدوري السعودي للسيدات يستقبل بطل كأس العالم" [Saudi Women's League welcomes World Cup champion.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  17. "AWSN, SAFF and SSC Launch First 24-Hour Women's Sports Channel in Saudi Arabia featuring Saudi Professional Women's Sports on a Global level". awsn.tv. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  18. "المغربية غزلان الشباك.. أول لاعبة من الدوري السعودي في قائمة (فيفبرو)" [Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak is the first player from the Saudi League to be included in the FIFPro list.]. goal.com/ar/indivisa (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  19. "مجموعة MBC الناقل الجديد لمنافسات الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات" [MBC Group is the new broadcaster of the Saudi Women's Premier League.]. goal.com/ar/indivisa (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  20. "Al-Nassr Saudi Women's Premier League Champions". saudigazette.com.sa. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  21. "Al-Nassr Are The 2023/2024 Saudi Women's Premier League Champions". forbes.com. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  22. "Incredible feeling": Saudi Women's Premier League glory vindicates Boussaha's Al-Nassr move". arabnews.com. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  23. "The Saudi Federation of Sports Medicine holds the first meeting of its Board of Directors" (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  24. "فريق التحدي يسجل نفسه في تاريخ الرياضة النسائية". Al-Yaum (in Arabic). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  25. "7 أهداف تقود «فريق المملكة» لذهب قدم السيدات". Okaz (in Arabic). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  26. Arab News (26 December 2024). "PepsiCo. subsidiary Lay's unveiled as sponsor of Saudi Women's Premier League". Arab News.
  27. Saudi National Bank (26 December 2024). "SNB and SAFF have renewed the official sponsorship of Saudi football for 3 years". Al-Ahli Bank.
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