Three years running, the Arabian Gulf League is still the best league in Asia, as per the AFC Technical Rankings, after the Asian Football Confederation announced the latest rankings on 23 October 2017.

The Arabian Gulf League bettered Asia’s biggest leagues with 96.224 points, ahead of the South Korea’s K-League in second place with 87.925 points, then the Chinese Super League with 87.212 points, whereas the Saudi Pro League came in fourth place with 84.55 points and the Japanese J-League in fifth with 82.788 points.

The UAE’s top flight competitions has already been at the top of the AFC rankings more than once in 2017, first in February 2017 with 96.56 points, and the second one in June with 95.428 points.

Abdulla Naser Al Junaibi, Chairman of the PLC, attributed this latest achievement to the great attention that the wise UAE leadership gives to football and sport in general, indicating that this success was expected after the performances of UAE’s clubs in the AFC Champions League. Al Junaibi highlighted the great coordination between UAE clubs, the UAE FA and the PLC, hoping that these efforts will continue to develop UAE football.

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“The continued presence of the league at the top of the Asian rankings for the third time in a row this year is wonderful news, but what is most important is that we keep this development up, so our league can be the best in the Asian continent from all aspects”, said Al Junaibi to Arabian Gulf League website, adding, “We will continue working with our partners to achieve the best quality in terms of organizing the different PLC competitions so that our league can be at the top; helping us achieve the great vision that our leaders have set out: to be the number one in all different sectors”.

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How the points for AFC Club Competition Ranking System are calculated?

As per the AFC website, 10% National Team performance + 90% Club Team performance is how the ranking is calculated. Based on the performance of last four years of National Teams and Club Teams at the AFC Club Competitions.

FIFA – Latest FIFA Men’s Ranking total points would identify the national Team performance.

AFC Champions League – The following points to be given to AFC Championship League Match results:

• 3 points for ‘WIN’, 1 point for ‘DRAW’ and 0 point for ‘LOSE’
• 3 additional points to be given to each club that advances to the Knockout Stage
• ACL Preliminary 1 & 2 and Playoff Stage – Bonus points for entry 0.3, each win (except by Penalty kick) 0.3 and each draw 0.15
• In case MA has more than 1 club in the Group Stage, then average points of clubs will be the final points for the respective MA

AFC Cup – The following points to be given to AFC Cup Match results:

• 3 points for ‘WIN’, 1 point for ‘DRAW’ and 0 point for ‘LOSE’ in the Group Stage
• 3 additional points to be given to each club that advances to the Knockout Stage
• AFC Cup Preliminary 1 & 2 and Playoff Stage – Bonus points for entry 0.3, each win (except by Penalty kick) 0.3 and each draw 0.15
• AFC Cup (West/Central/South/East) 4.8 points for each WIN and 1.6 points for each DRAW in the Knockout Stage
• AFC Cup (ASEAN) 2.67 points for each WIN and 0.89 points for each DRAW in the Knockout Stage
• In case MA has more than 1 club in the Group Stage, then average points of clubs will be the final points for the respective MA
• 1 AFC Cup point is equivalent to 1/3 of the AFC Champions League point

The MA ranked number 1 in the National Team Ranking will receive full marks (i.e. 10 points). The other MAs will receive points proportionally less (based on the number of points obtained in the FIFA Ranking) compared to the MA ranked number 1.

The MA ranked number 1 in the Club Teams’ performance will receive full marks (i.e. 90 points). The other MAs will receive points proportionally less (based on the number of points obtained from the results of Club Teams at the AFC Club Competitions) compared to the MA ranked 1.