# 2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The 2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the first season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and 41st season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 12 September 2017 and concluded on 18 April 2018.

## Overview
### First Division rebranding

On 19 September 2017, the General Sports Authority announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2017–18 season, the competition was known as the Prince Faisal bin Fahd League. As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced. On 9 February 2018, the General Sports Authority once again announced a rebrand; starting from the current season, the competition will be known as the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League.

### Rule changes

On 11 September 2017, the SAFF announced that the numbers of foreign players were increased from 2 players to 3 players. They also announced that the allowed number of substitutions per match was increased from 3 to 5.

## Teams

A total of 16 teams are contesting the league, including 11 sides from the 2016–17 season, two relegated from the 2016–17 Professional League, and three promoted from the 2016–17 Second Division.
Al-Kawkab and Jeddah became the first two clubs to be promoted to the First Division, with both clubs finishing as group winners. Al-Mujazzel became the third and final club to be promoted, following a 5–1 win over Al-Ansar on 3 March 2017, to secure their return to the First Division after only a season's absence. Al-Kawkab returned to the First Division for the first time since the 2013–14 season, and Jeddah will play in their first-ever season in the First Division since being re-branded.
On 20 April 2017, Al-Wehda became the first side to be relegated from the Pro League following a 2–1 home defeat to Al-Fateh. This will be Al-Wehda's first season back to the First Division since the 2014–15 season. On 4 May 2017, Al-Khaleej were the 2nd side to be relegated from the Pro League after a 2–2 draw with Al-Faisaly, finishing 13th in the league. This will also be Al-Khaleej's first season return to the First Division since the 2013–14 season.
On 27 April 2017 Wej became the first club to be relegated to the Second Division following 2–1 loss to Hajer. On the final matchday, both Al-Adalh and Al-Jeel were relegated to the Second Division, with both clubs drawing their matches.

## Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2016–17 season.

## Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Al-Hazem | Ar Rass | Al-Hazem Club Stadium | 2,800 |
| Al-Kawkab | Al-Kharj | Al-Shoulla Club Stadium | 5,200 |
| Al-Khaleej | Saihat | Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al-Mujazzal | Al-Majma'ah | King Salman Sport City Stadium | 5,200 |
| Al-Nahda | Dammam | Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium | 15,000 |
| Al-Nojoom | Al-Hasa | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium | 19,096 |
| Al-Orobah | Sakakah | Al-Oruba Club Stadium | 7,000 |
| Al-Qaisumah | Qaisumah | Al-Batin Club Stadium | 6,000 |
| Al-Shoulla | Al-Saih | Al-Shoulla Club Stadium | 5,200 |
| Al-Tai | Ha'il | Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium | 12,000 |
| Al-Watani | Tabuk | King Khalid Sport City Stadium | 20,000 |
| Al-Wehda | Makkah | King Abdul Aziz Stadium | 33,195 |
| Damac | Khamis Mushait | Damac Club Stadium | 3,556 |
| Hajer | Al-Hasa | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium | 19,096 |
| Jeddah | Jeddah | Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City | 1,000 |
| Najran | Najran | Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium | 20,000 |
1: ^ Najran will play at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium due to the ongoing war in Yemen.

## Foreign players

| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Former Players |
| Al-Hazem | Bouazza Feham | Pato | Saeed Mustafa | Dodô |
| Al-Kawkab | Emmanuel Gomis | Mignane Diouf | | |
| Al-Khaleej | Gilmar | Jandson | Alioune N'Diaye | Jorginho |
| Al-Mujazzal | Juninho Aguiar | Morotó | | Gabriel Ceará |
| Al-Nahda | Mohamed Aoudou | Athir Thomas | | |
| Al-Nojoom | Júninho | Tiago Lopes | | |
| Al-Orobah | Frank Papara | Thierno Diallo | | Rogério Martins |
| Al-Qaisumah | Diego Barboza | Ahmad Maiga | Souleymane Demba | |
| Al-Shoulla | Dodô | Sadat Bukari | | |
| Al-Tai | Aminou Bouba | Ernest Barfo | Fadel Barry | Júninho |
| Al-Watani | Mohamed Soudani | | | Edy-Nicolas Boyom |
| Al-Wehda | Abubaker Khabir | | | Bouazza Feham |
| Damac | Abdel Fadel Suanon | Moussa Tigana | Kemokho Cissoko | |
| Hajer | Willen Mota | Houssem Slimène | | Hervé Tchami |
| Jeddah | Reda El-Weshi | Sherif Ashraf | | |
| Najran | | | | |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Al-Wehda (C, P) | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 32 | +17 | 58 | Promotion to Professional League |
| 2 | Al-Hazem (P) | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 32 | +18 | 53 | Promotion to Professional League |
| 3 | Al-Tai | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 52 | 35 | +17 | 52 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Al-Kawkab | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 50 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Hajer | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 50 | |
| 6 | Al-Shoulla | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 43 | |
| 7 | Al-Khaleej | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 41 | |
| 8 | Al-Qaisumah | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 52 | 54 | −2 | 40 | |
| 9 | Damac | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 39 | |
| 10 | Al-Orobah | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 36 | 39 | −3 | 38 | |
| 11 | Al-Nahda | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 35 | |
| 12 | Al-Nojoom | 30 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 34 | 41 | −7 | 33 | |
| 13 | Al-Mujazzal | 30 | 10 | 3 | 17 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 33 | |
| 14 | Najran (O) | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 39 | 51 | −12 | 33 | Qualification to Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Al-Watani (R) | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 33 | 48 | −15 | 27 | Qualification to Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Jeddah (O) | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 43 | 61 | −18 | 25 | Qualification to Relegation play-offs |
* 1 2 Al-Kawkab finished ahead of Hajer on head-to-head points: Al-Kawkab 2–0 Hajer, Hajer 2–2 Al-Kawkab
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head points: Al-Nojoom 8 pts; Al-Mujazzal 4 pts and –1 GD; Najran 4 pts and –2 GD (Al-Nojoom 2–1 Al-Mujazzal, Al-Mujazzal 0–0 Al-Nojoom, Al-Nojoom 2–0 Najran, Najran 1–1 Al-Nojoom, Najran 1–2 Al-Mujazzal, Al-Mujazzal 1–2 Najran).

### Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Al-Wehda | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Al-Hazem | 13 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Al-Tai | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Al-Kawkab | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Hajer | 8 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Al-Shoulla | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Al-Khaleej | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Al-Qaisumah | 12 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Damac | 7 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Al-Orobah | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Al-Nahda | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Al-Nojoom | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Al-Mujazzal | 16 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| Najran | 15 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Al-Watani | 14 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Jeddah | 11 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
* Leader
* Promotion to 2018–19 Saudi Professional League
* Relegation to 2018–19 Second Division

## Results

| Home \ Away | HAZ | KAW | KHJ | MUJ | NAH | NOJ | ORO | QAI | SHO | TAI | WAT | WHD | DAM | HJR | JED | NAJ |
| Al-Hazem | | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Al-Kawkab | 0–1 | | 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Al-Khaleej | 2–1 | 0–2 | | 1–0 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Al-Mujazzal | 0–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | | 6–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Al-Nahda | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Al-Nojoom | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Al-Orobah | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Al-Qaisumah | 1–1 | 4–6 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Al-Shoulla | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2–3 |
| Al-Tai | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 5–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 |
| Al-Watani | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Al-Wehda | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 |
| Damac | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 6–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | | 2–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 |
| Hajer | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Jeddah | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 3–1 |
| Najran | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 4–3 | |

### Season progress

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Al-Hazem | D | D | D | W | D | W | L | D | W | D | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | L | D | L | L | D | W |
| Al-Kawkab | D | D | D | L | W | L | L | L | W | D | L | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | D | W | D |
| Al-Khaleej | W | D | L | W | D | D | W | D | W | L | D | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | L | D | W | D | W | L | D | W | W | L | D | L |
| Al-Mujazzal | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | L | W | W | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | L |
| Al-Nahda | D | W | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | D | L | W |
| Al-Nojoom | D | W | D | L | D | D | L | W | D | L | D | L | D | D | D | L | D | W | W | D | L | L | L | W | D | D | W | D | D | L |
| Al-Orobah | W | D | W | W | L | D | L | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | D | W | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | D | D | L | D | D | D |
| Al-Qaisumah | D | W | L | W | D | L | W | W | L | D | L | L | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | L | L | L | W | W | D | L | L | D | L | W |
| Al-Shoulla | D | W | D | L | D | D | W | W | D | L | L | W | W | D | L | W | D | D | L | W | D | W | W | W | L | L | L | W | L | D |
| Al-Tai | W | L | W | W | L | W | W | D | D | D | W | L | L | D | W | W | L | L | D | W | L | W | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | L |
| Al-Watani | L | L | D | W | D | W | L | W | D | D | D | D | L | L | L | D | W | D | L | W | L | D | L | D | L | D | L | L | D | L |
| Al-Wehda | D | W | D | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | W | D | W | W | D | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | W | W | D | D | D | W |
| Damac | D | L | D | L | L | D | L | D | L | W | W | D | W | L | L | D | D | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | W | W | D |
| Hajer | D | L | D | L | D | W | W | W | D | W | L | D | W | D | L | L | D | L | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | W | W |
| Jeddah | D | D | L | L | L | D | W | L | L | D | W | D | L | D | W | L | L | L | D | D | W | L | W | L | D | D | L | L | L | L |
| Najran | L | D | D | W | D | L | L | D | W | W | W | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | D | D | W |

## Relegation play-offs

On March 7, 2018, the Saudi Football Federation announced that the number of teams in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League will be increased from 16 teams to 20 teams. The relegation was removed and in its place, they announced a relegation play-off. The bottom 3 teams will face the 4th place team in each group and the best 5th team in a two-legged match.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Najran | 2–1 | Al-Muzahimiyyah | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Al-Watani | 1–2 | Abha | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Jeddah | 3–3 (4–1 p) | Al-Taqadom | 2–1 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) |
Najran won 2–1 on aggregate.
Abha won 2–1 on aggregate.
3–3 on aggregate. Jeddah won 4–1 on penalties.

## Statistics
### Scoring
#### Top scorers

    As of 18 April 2018
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Mashari Al-Enezi | Al-Tai | 21 |
| 2 | Saleh Al Abbas | Najran | 18 |
| 3 | Sidevaldo | Al-Mujazzal | 17 |
| 4 | Reda El-Weshi | Jeddah | 14 |
| 4 | Haron Eisa | Al-Watani | 14 |
| 6 | Mohammed Rawaf | Al-Orobah | 13 |
| 7 | Mignane Diouf | Al-Kawkab | 12 |
| 7 | Fahad Hadl | Al-Qaisumah | 12 |
| 7 | Ali Khormi | Al-Hazem | 12 |
| 7 | Hassan Sharahili | Damac | 12 |

#### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Mignane Diouf | Al-Kawkab | Jeddah | 5–1 (A) | 11 October 2017 |
| Maher Sharoma | Al-Nojoom | Al-Kawkab | 3–2 (H) | 2 November 2017 |
| Ali Khormi | Al-Hazem | Al-Qaisumah | 5–2 (H) | 11 January 2018 |
| Ousmane Barry | Al-Hazem | Al-Nahda | 3–2 (H) | 3 February 2018 |
| Hassan Sharahili | Damac | Al-Qaisumah | 6–1 (H) | 11 April 2018 |
| Saleh Al Abbas | Najran | Jeddah | 4–3 (H) | 18 April 2018 |

### Clean sheets

    As of 18 April 2018
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Dawod Al Saeed | Al-Hazem | 11 |
| 1 | Abdullah Al-Jadaani | Al-Wehda | 11 |
| 1 | Yahia Al-Shehri | Al-Kawkab | 11 |
| 4 | Abdulmajeed Al-Thunayan | Damac | 7 |
| 5 | Mohammed Rabee | Al-Orobah | 6 |
| 5 | Saeed Al-Harbi | Al-Shoulla | 6 |
| 5 | Abdulaziz Takrouni | Al-Tai | 6 |
| 5 | Mohammed Al-Breh | Al-Qaisumah | 6 |
| 9 | Fares Al-Shammeri | Al-Mujazzal | 5 |
| 9 | Sultan Al-Shammeri | Al-Khaleej | 5 |