The 2008–09 UAE Pro League season was the 34th edition of top level football in the United Arab Emirates and started on 19 September 2008 until 24 May 2009.
Al-Ahli clinched the championship on the last day of the season, one of the most exciting campaigns for a number of years and also qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.
Al-Shabab were defending champions from the 2007–08 campaign.
Emirates and Hatta were relegated from the previous season.Ajman and Al-Khaleej were promoted from the second level.
The winners of the league qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.
| Club | Coach | Nationality | City | Stadium | 2007–2008 season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Shabab | Toninho Cerezo |  | Dubai | Al Maktoum Stadium | UAE League Champions | AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier |
| Al-Jazira | Abel Braga | | Abu Dhabi | Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium | 2nd in UAE League | AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier |
| Al-Ahli | Ivan Hašek |  | Dubai | Rashed Stadium | 3rd in UAE League | AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier |
| Al-Sharjah | Youssef Al Zawawi |  | Sharjah | Sharjah Stadium | 4th in UAE League | AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier |
| Al-Shaab | Luka Peruzović |  | Sharjah | Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium | 5th in UAE League | 2008–09 Arab Champions League Qualifier - Later Withdrew |
| Al-Ain | Winfried Schäfer |  | Al Ain | Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium | 6th in UAE League | |
| Al-Wasl | Miroslav Beránek | | Dubai | Zabeel Stadium | 7th in UAE League | |
| Al-Wahda | Ahmad Abdulhaleem |  | Abu Dhabi | Al-Nahyan Stadium | 8th in UAE League | |
| Al-Nasr | Luka Bonačić | | Dubai | Al-Maktoum Stadium | 9th in UAE League | |
| Al-Dhafra | Mohammad Kwid | Dhafra | Al Dhafra Stadium | 10th in UAE League | ||
| Ajman | Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader |  | Ajman | Ajman Stadium | Promoted | |
| Al-Khaleej | Sammir Juwaili | | Khor Fakkan | Al Baladi Stadium | Promoted |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Wasl | Miroslav Beranek | Sacked[1] | Hélio dos Anjos |
| Al-Wahda | Ahmad Abdulhaleem | Sacked[2] |  Josef Hickersberger |
| Al-Dhafra | Mohammad Kwid | Resigned[3] | Eid Baroot |
| Al-Sharjah | Youssef Al Zawawi | Resigned after 11 games[4] |  Toni Oliveira |
| Al-Wasl | Hélio dos Anjos | Sacked | Jaroslav Horák |
| Ajman | Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader | Sacked [5] | |
| Al-Sharjah | Toni Oliveira | Sacked after 'poor results' [6] | Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader |
| Al-Ahli | Ivan Hašek | Quit after winning championship [7] [8] |  Ioan Andone |
Source: goalzz.com
Fernando Baiano (Al Jazira)
Mohamed Kader (Dhafra) Anderson Barbosa (Sharjah)
Godwin Attram (Al-Shaab) Pinga (Al Wahda) Baré (Al-Ahli) Alexandre Oliveira (Al Wasl)
Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain)
