Saudi Third Division

Last updated
Saudi Third Division
Organising body Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded1996;29 years ago (1996)
Country Saudi Arabia
Confederation AFC
Number of clubs40 (since 2023–24)
Level on pyramid 4
Promotion to Saudi Second Division League
Relegation to Saudi Fourth Division
Current champions Al-Qala (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championships Al-Okhdood
Al-Safa
(2 titles each)
Broadcaster(s) SAFF+
Website saff.com.sa/en/
Current: 2025–26 Saudi Third Division

The Saudi Third Division, is a football league, the fourth tier of the Saudi Arabian football league system. [1]

Contents

History

The competition was created in 1996 and took up the old format of the Saudi Second Division. The first phase of competition was a group stage with teams divided into geographical locations based on the provinces of Saudi Arabia. The second phase was a knockout round tournament, with the group winners and runners-up taking part.

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced a new format for the Third Division starting from the 2021–22 season. The competition would consist of 32 teams divided into 4 groups, with the group winners earning promotion to the Saudi Second Division League. [2] Al-Suqoor, now known as Neom, were the first champions of the new format. [3]

During the 2023–24 season, the number of teams participating was increased to 40 teams. [4]

Competition format

The 4 group winners would get promoted to the Saudi Second Division. The bottom 4 teams are relegated to the Fourth Division.

Champions

Old Format (1997–2021)

SeasonChampionsRunners-up3rd Place [a] 4th Place
1996–97 Al-Orobah
1997–98 Al-Hazem Al-Qarah Al-Okhdood Al-Ta'alof
1998–99 Abha Al-Kholood Al-Jubail Al-Oyoon
1999–2000 Al-Oyoon Al-Jabalain Al-Rabe'e Al-Sadd
2000–01 Al-Adalah Al-Faisaly Al-Okhdood Al-Arabi
2001–02 Al-Arabi Al-Tuhami Al-Fayha Al-Noor
2002–03 Al-Watani Damac Najd Al-Rawdah
2003–04 Al-Okhdood Al-Tuhami Al-Khuwaildiyah Al-Taqadom
2004–05 Al-Rabe'e Al-Qotah Al-Kawkab Al-Nakhil
2005–06 Al-Noor Al-Oyoon Heraa Neom SC
2006–07 Hetten Al-Diriyah Al-Rawdah Al-Nakhil
2007–08 Al-Qaisumah Al-Batin Al-Mujazzal Al-Jeel
2008–09 Najd Al-Arabi Al-Ain Al-Nakhil
2009–10 Al-Taqadom Al-Oyoon Al-Kawkab Al-Badaya
2010–11 Al-Safa Al-Ain Al-Taraji Al-Salam
2011–12 Al-Tuhami Al-Mujazzal Al-Qala Wej
2012–13 Al-Nojoom Al-Zulfi Al-Okhdood Al-Sharq
2013–14 Al-Muzahimiyyah Al-Sahel Wej Al-Adalah
2014–15 Al-Jabalain Al-Qaisumah Al-Washm Al-Qala
2015–16 Al-Ain Al-Suqoor Al-Rabe'e Al-Thoqbah
2016–17 Al-Kholood Al-Hejaz Al-Taqadom Al Jubail
2017–18 Al-Okhdood Al-Dera'a Al-Jandal and Al-Sahel
2018–19 Al Safa Al-Rawdhah Al-Entesar Al-Anwar
2019–20
Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Al-Saqer Al-Nairyah Al-Rayyan and Tuwaiq
  1. ↑ No third place play-off was played in 2017–18 and 2020–21; losing semi-finalists are listed in alphabetical order.

New Format (2021–)

SeasonChampionRunners-up
2021–22 Al-Suqoor Al-Qous
2022–23 Mudhar Al-Noor
2023–24 Al-Ula Al-Anwar
2024–25 Al-Qala Jubbah

Performance by club

ClubTitlesWinning years
Al-Okhdood 22003–04, 2017–18
Al-Safa 22010–11, 2018–19
Al-Orobah 11996–97
Al-Hazem 11997–98
Abha 11998–99
Al-Oyoon 11999–2000
Al-Adalah 12000–01
Al-Arabi 12001–02
Al-Watani 12002–03
Jeddah 12004–05
Al-Noor 12005–06
Hetten 12006–07
Al-Qaisumah 12007–08
Najd 12008–09
Al-Taqadom 12009–10
Al-Tuhami 12011–12
Al-Nojoom 12012–13
Al-Muzahimiyyah 12013–14
Al-Jabalain 12014–15
Al-Ain 12015–16
Al-Kholood 12016–17
Al-Saqer 12020–21
Al-Suqoor 12021–22
Mudhar 12022–23
Al-Ula 12023–24
Al-Qala 12024–25

Top scorers

SeasonPlayerGoalsClub
2021–22 Hamed Al-Shammeri Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg
12
 Qaryah Al-Ulya
2022–23 Abdulaziz Al-Merdasi Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg
12
 Afif
2023–24 Slim Mezlini Flag of Tunisia.svg
14
 Al-Eetemad
2024–25 Maxwell Abbey Quaye Flag of Ghana.svg
18
 Al-Tuhami

Broadcasters

Since the 2024–25 season

CountryBroadcasterRef.
Worldwide

References

  1. ↑ Official SAFF site in English
  2. ↑ "The Football Association creates a "third" league and changes the name of the third division to the fourth division league". aawsat. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "الصقور.. بطلا لـ «دوري الثالثة»".
  4. ↑ "رسمياً.. زيادة عدد أندية الدوري السعودي والأجانب".
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