Saudi Third Division

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Saudi Third Division
Organising bodySaudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded1996; 29 years ago (1996)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs40 (since 2023–24)
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toSaudi Second Division League
Relegation toSaudi Fourth Division
Current championsAl-Qala (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championshipsAl-Okhdood
Al-Safa
(2 titles each)
Broadcaster(s)SAFF+
Websitesaff.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]

History

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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

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

Champions

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Old Format (1997–2021)

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Season Champions Runners-up 3rd 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–)

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Season Champion Runners-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

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Club Titles Winning years
Al-Okhdood 2 2003–04, 2017–18
Al-Safa 2 2010–11, 2018–19
Al-Orobah 1 1996–97
Al-Hazem 1 1997–98
Abha 1 1998–99
Al-Oyoon 1 1999–2000
Al-Adalah 1 2000–01
Al-Arabi 1 2001–02
Al-Watani 1 2002–03
Jeddah 1 2004–05
Al-Noor 1 2005–06
Hetten 1 2006–07
Al-Qaisumah 1 2007–08
Najd 1 2008–09
Al-Taqadom 1 2009–10
Al-Tuhami 1 2011–12
Al-Nojoom 1 2012–13
Al-Muzahimiyyah 1 2013–14
Al-Jabalain 1 2014–15
Al-Ain 1 2015–16
Al-Kholood 1 2016–17
Al-Saqer 1 2020–21
Al-Suqoor 1 2021–22
Mudhar 1 2022–23
Al-Ula 1 2023–24
Al-Qala 1 2024–25

Top scorers

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Season Player Goals Club
2021–22 Hamed Al-Shammeri Saudi Arabia
12
 Qaryah Al-Ulya
2022–23 Abdulaziz Al-Merdasi Saudi Arabia
12
 Afif
2023–24 Slim Mezlini Tunisia
14
 Al-Eetemad
2024–25 Maxwell Abbey Quaye Ghana
18
 Al-Tuhami

Broadcasters

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Since the 2024–25 season

Country Broadcaster Ref.
Worldwide
SAFF+

References

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  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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