The 2008–09 Umaglesi Liga was the twentieth season of top-tier football in Georgia.
It was scheduled to begin in August 2008, but the start of the league was delayed due to the 2008 South Ossetia war.
However, Ameri Tbilisi voluntarily withdrew from the competition in mid-July because of financial reasons.
Merani Tbilisi, Dinamo Batumi and Dila Gori were relegated at the end of the previous season due to finishing 12th through 14th, respectively.
Due to the reduction of league size, only Pirveli Liga champions Chiatura were promoted.