List of governorates of Saudi Arabia

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Administrative Division
Native nameمحافظات المملكة العربية السعودية
TypeSecond-level administrative division
CountrySaudi Arabia
Number136
Established1992
SubdivisionsProvinces of Saudi Arabia
Administered byGovernors

Governorates of Saudi Arabia (محافظات المملكة العربية السعودية) are the second-level administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They fall under the 13 first-level provinces and function as local governance units led by appointed governors. As of 2012, there are 136 governorates across the Kingdom.

Classification

Governorates are categorized into three levels based on population, availability of public services, geographic and environmental factors, security considerations, and transportation infrastructure. These categories are:

  • Capital (Amānah) – the administrative capital of a province
  • Category A
  • Category B

This classification is established in Article 3 of the Provinces System issued by King Fahd in 1992 and amended in 1993.[1][2]

History

The Provinces System was established in 1992 under a royal order by King Fahd, initially creating 118 governorates. This system aimed to decentralize governance and improve administrative efficiency by giving local authorities more oversight and responsibility.

In 2012, under the rule of King Abdullah, the number of governorates was increased to 136 to reflect the country’s demographic and geographic developments.[3]

Administration

Each governorate is led by a governor (muḥāfiẓ) appointed by royal decree and assisted by a deputy governor. Governorates are further divided into administrative units called centers (مراكز), also known as sub-governorates. These centers handle local service delivery and coordinate with provincial authorities.[2]

List of Governorates

Governorates of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Index Governorate Region Population
2010 Census		 Remarks
1 Riyadh Riyadh Province 5,254,560
2 Diriyah Riyadh Province 73,668
3 Al-Kharj Riyadh Province 376,325
4 Dawadmi Riyadh Province 217,305
5 Al-Majma'ah Riyadh Province 133,285
6 Al-Quway'iyah Riyadh Province 126,161
7 Wadi ad-Dawasir Riyadh Province 106,152
8 Al-Aflaj Riyadh Province 68,201
9 Al-Zulf Riyadh Province 69,201
10 Shaqra Riyadh Province 40,541
11 Hotat Bani Tamim Riyadh Province 43,300
12 Afif Riyadh Province 77,978
13 As Sulayyil Riyadh Province 36,383
14 Dhurma Riyadh Province 24,429
15 Al-Muzahmiyya Riyadh Province 39,865
16 Rumah Riyadh Province 28,055
17 Thadig Riyadh Province 17,165
18 Huraymila Riyadh Province 15,324
19 Al-Hariq Riyadh Province 14,750
20 Al-Ghat Riyadh Province 14,405
21 Mecca Mecca Province 1,675,368
22 Jeddah Mecca Province 3,456,259
23 Taif Mecca Province 987,914
24 Al-Qunfudhah Mecca Province 272,424
25 Al-Lith Mecca Province 128,529
26 Rabigh Mecca Province 92,072
27 Al-Jumum Mecca Province 92,222
28 Khulays Mecca Province 56,687
29 Al-Kamil Mecca Province 21,419
30 Al-Khurmah Mecca Province 42,223
31 Ranyah Mecca Province 45,942
32 Turubah Mecca Province 43,947
33 Medina Medina Province 1,180,770
34 Yanbu Medina Province 298,675
35 al-Ula Medina Province 64,591
36 Mahd Al-Dhahab Medina Province 62,511
37 Badr Medina Province 63,468
38 Khaybar Medina Province 48,592
39 Al-Hinakiyah Medina Province 59,326
40 Buraidah Al-Qassim Province 614,093
41 Unaizah Al-Qassim Province 163,729
42 Ar Rass Al-Qassim Province 133,482
43 Al-Mithnab Al-Qassim Province 44,043
44 Al-Bukayriyah Al-Qassim Province 57,621
45 Al-Badayea Al-Qassim Province 57,164
46 Asyah Al-Qassim Province 26,336
47 Al-Nabhaniyah Al-Qassim Province 47,744
48 Uyun AlJiwa Al-Qassim Province 26,544
49 Riyadh Al-Khabra Al-Qassim Province 34,497
50 Al-Shimasiyah Al-Qassim Province 10,605
51 Dammam Eastern Province 903,597
52 Al-Ahsa Eastern Province 1,063,112
53 Hafar al-Batin Eastern Province 389,993
54 Jubail Eastern Province 378,949
55 Qatif Eastern Province 524,182
56 Khobar Eastern Province 578,500
57 Khafji Eastern Province 76,279
58 Ras Tanura Eastern Province 60,750
59 Abqaiq Eastern Province 53,444
60 Al-Nairyah Eastern Province 52,340
61 Qaryat al-Ulya Eastern Province 24,634
62 Abha Asir Province 1,093,705
63 Khamis Mushait Asir Province 512,599
64 Bisha Asir Province 205,346
65 Al-Namas Asir Province 54,119
66 Muhayil Asir Province 228,979 now includes Bareq (60,000)
previously in Mecca Province.
67 Sarat Abidah Asir Province 67,120
68 Tathlith Asir Province 59,188
69 Rijal Almaa Asir Province 65,406 now includes Al-Haridhah (18,586)
previously in Jazan Province.
70 Ahad Rafidah Asir Province 113,043
71 Dhahran Al-Janub Asir Province 63,119
72 Balqarn Asir Province 74,391 previously known as Sabt Alalaya.
73 Al-Majaridah Asir Province 103,531
74 Tabuk Tabuk Province 569,797
75 Al-Wajh Tabuk Province 44,570
76 Duba Tabuk Province 51,951
77 Tayma Tabuk Province 36,199
78 Umluj Tabuk Province 61,162
79 Haql Tabuk Province 27,856 previously in Al-Jouf Province.
80 Ḥaʼil Ḥa'il Province 412,758
81 Baqaa Ḥa'il Province 40,157
82 Al-Khazaiah Ḥa'il Province 102,588
83 Al-Shinan Ḥa'il Province 41,641
84 Arar Northern Borders Province 191,051
85 Rafha Northern Borders Province 80,544
86 Turaif Northern Borders Province 48,929
87 Jizan Jazan Province 157,536
88 Sabya Jazan Province 228,375
89 Abu `Arish Jazan Province 197,112
90 Samtah Jazan Province 201,656
91 Al-Harth Jazan Province 18,586
92 Damad Jazan Province 71,601
93 Al-Reeth Jazan Province 18,961
94 Baish Jazan Province 77,442
95 Farasan Jazan Province 17,999
96 Al-Dayer Jazan Province 58,494
97 Ahad al-Masarihah Jazan Province 110,710
98 Al-Edabi Jazan Province 60,799
99 Al-Aridhah Jazan Province 76,705
100 Al-Darb Jazan Province 69,134
101 Harub Jazan Province 26,399
102 Najran Najran Province 329,112
103 Sharurah Najran Province 85,977
104 Hubuna Najran Province 20,400
105 Badr Al-Janub Najran Province 11,117
106 Yadamah Najran Province 16,851
107 Thar Najran Province 16,047
108 Khubash Najran Province 22,133
109 Al-Kharkhir Najran Province 4,015 previously in Eastern Province.
110 Al-Bahah Al-Bahah Province 103,411
111 Baljurashi Al-Bahah Province 65,223
112 Al-Mandaq Al-Bahah Province 35,629
113 Al-Makhwah Al-Bahah Province 70,664
114 Al-Aqiq Al-Bahah Province 47,235
115 Qilwah Al-Bahah Province 58,246
116 Al-Qara Al-Bahah Province 31,380 the villages’, sometimes referenced by
the largest town, Al-Atawelah.
117 Sakakah Al-Jouf Province 242,813
118 Qurayyat Al-Jouf Province 147,550
119 Dumat al-Jandal Al-Jouf Province 49,646


See also

References

  1. ^ "Saudi Arabia Regions". www.statoids.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  2. ^ a b "Organization of the Emirate of Makkah Province". Ministry of Interior.
  3. ^ "The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques agrees to the addition of 46 new governorates and centers". Ar Riyadh. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018.
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