| Season: | 2012–13 |
| Winners: | Al-Sadd 13th title |
| League Topscorer: | Sebastián Soria (19 goals) |
| Nextseason: | 2013–14 |
The 2012–13 Qatari League, also known as Qatari Stars League was the 40th edition of top level football championship in Qatar. The season started on 15 September 2012 and took a monthlong break from 21 December to 21 January 2013 due to the 21st Arabian Gulf Cup. Lekhwiya were the defending champions. Al-Sadd won the league for the 13th time in their history, making them the most successful team in the Qatar Stars League.
Al-Ahli were relegated to the second level league after finishing bottom in the 2011–12 Qatar Stars League campaign.
Al-Sailiya were promoted as the 2nd level champions and are back after one season away from the top flight.
| Club | City/Town | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arabi | Doha | Grand Hamad Stadium | 13,000 |
| Al-Gharafa | Al Gharafa | 22,000 | |
| Al-Kharaitiyat | Al-Rayyan | Al-Khawr Stadium | 12,000 |
| Al-Khor | Al Khor | Al-Khawr Stadium | 12,000 |
| Al-Rayyan | Al Rayyan | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium | 22,000 |
| Al-Sadd | Doha | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al-Sailiya | Doha | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium 1 | 22,000 |
| Al-Wakrah | Al Wakrah | Al-Wakrah Stadium | 12,000 |
| El Jaish | Doha | Qatar SC Stadium | 12,000 |
| Lekhwiya | Doha | Lekhwiya Sports Stadium | 10,000 |
| Qatar SC | Doha | Qatar SC Stadium | 12,000 |
| Umm Salal | Umm Salal | Grand Hamad Stadium | 13,000 |
1 Al-Sailiya do not have a stadium of their own so they share with Al-Rayyan.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arabi |  Abdelaziz Bennij |  Masoud Zeraei | Adidas | QPM | |
| Al-Gharafa |  Alex | Erreà | Vodafone | ||
| Al-Kharaitiyat |  Bernard Simondi | Nabeel Anwar | BURRDA | Al-Khuratiyat Co. | |
| Al-Khor | László Bölöni | Mustafa Jalal | Adidas | Qatar Airways | |
| Al-Rayyan | Diego Aguirre | Fábio César | Adidas | Rayan Co. | |
| Al-Sadd | Hussein Ammouta | Abdulla Koni | BURRDA | Vodafone | |
| Al-Sailiya | Abdullah Mubarak | Abdulla Darwish | Nike | Qatar Islamic Bank | |
| Al-Wakrah |  Mehmed Baždarević |  Ali Rehema | Nike | ||
| El Jaish | Răzvan Lucescu | Karim Ziani | Nike | Masrat Rayan | |
| Lekhwiya |  Eric Gerets | Dame Traoré | BURRDA | Masrat Rayan | |
| Qatar SC | Sebastião Lazaroni | Hussain Al-Romaihi | Adidas | QatarEnergy | |
| Umm Salal | Bertrand Marchand |  Sasa Ognenovski | Nike | Global Sports |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Jaish | Péricles Chamusca | Contract expired [2] | 9 May 2012 | Răzvan Lucescu[3] | 9 May 2012 | |
| Al-Sadd | Jorge Fossati | Contract expired | 19 May 2012 | Hussein Ammouta[4] | 1 June 2012 | |
| Al-Khor | Alain Perrin | Signed by Qatar U-23[5] | 21 May 2012 | László Bölöni [6] | 21 June 2012 | |
| Al-Wakrah | Adnan Dirjal | Resigned [7] | 23 May 2012 | Mehmed Baždarević | 23 May 2012 | |
| Umm Salal | Gérard Gili | Contract expired | 20 June 2012 | Bertrand Marchand[8] | 27 June 2012 | |
| Qatar SC | Saïd Chiba | Contract expired | 8 July 2012 | Sebastião Lazaroni[9] | 9 July 2012 | |
| Al-Kharaitiyat | Laurent Banide | Contract expired | 20 July 2012 | Bernard Simondi[10] | 23 July 2012 | |
| Al-Arabi | Pierre Lechantre | Sacked [11] | 30 September 2012 |  Hassan Shehata[12] | 11 October 2012 | |
| Lekhwiya | Djamel Belmadi | Resigned | 8 October 2012 | Eric Gerets[13] | 8 October 2012 | |
| Al-Sailiya | Uli Stielike | Sacked | 8 October 2012 |  Maher Kanzari[14] | 8 October 2012 | |
| Al-Gharafa | Paulo Silas | Sacked | 27 November 2012 | Habib Sadegh[15] | 27 November 2012 | |
| Al-Arabi | Hassan Shehata | Sacked [16] | 6 December 2012 | 6 December 2012 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Habib Sadegh | Temp mandate over | 20 December 2012 | Alain Perrin[17] | 20 December 2012 | |
| Al-Sailiya | Maher Kanzari | Resigned[18] | 31 January 2013 | 31 January 2013 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Alain Perrin | Resigned[19] | 21 February 2013 | Habib Sadegh | 21 February 2013 |
At the end of the season it was announced that the 2013–14 season would feature 14 teams. The decision to increase the numbers of teams means Al Sailiya – who finished bottom of the league – will avoid relegation. Meanwhile, Muaither – who lost to Al Arabi in the play-offs – will join as the 14th team.
The Second Division and the reserve league will also merge to create a stronger second tier.[20]
As of 18 April 2013[21]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastián Soria | Lekhwiya | 19 |
| 2 | Nilmar | Al-Rayyan | 14 |
| 3 | Moumouni Dagano | Al-Sailiya | 13 |
| 4 | Younis Mahmoud | 10 | |
| Júlio César | Al-Khor | 10 | |
| Khalfan Ibrahim | Al-Sadd | 10 | |
| Rodrigo Tabata | Al-Rayyan | 10 | |
| 5 | Diego Tardelli | Al-Gharafa | 9 |
| Mohammed Razak | Qatar SC | 9 | |
 Raúl | 9 |
