Fourteen teams will participate in the competition. Eleven of them have also competed in the 2008–09 season while the remaining three teams were promoted from the Second Division.
Each team will play against every other team twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 26 matches. After these matches, the two teams with the worst records will be relegated to the Second Division. The remaining twelve teams will be divided into three groups of four teams each.
The teams ranked first through fourth will play out the champion and the participants for the European competitions. Teams ranked ninth through 12th will determine the third relegated club, while the remaining four teams will play a placement round. Every team plays twice against its group opponents. Regular season records are carried over without any modifications.
Due to the ongoing Cypriot separation, several clubs originally located in the Turkish occupied part of the island play in the unoccupied part. Further, not all home grounds fulfil the requirements for Cypriot top-level football. Thus, the map depicts the current home ground of each team and not its original location.
Source: UEFA Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored. Qualified teams for Group A will play for one spot for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and two spots for the UEFA Europa League, one for the second and one for the first qualifying round. A spot in the third qualifying round of UEFA Europa League will be awarded to the winners of the 2009–10 Cypriot Cup. Qualified teams for Group C will play for one additional relegation spot. Points gained in the First Round will be taken over into the Second Round groups. (R) Relegated Notes: