List of governorates of Saudi Arabia

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.

Administrative Division

Native name	محافظات المملكة العربية السعودية
Type	Second-level administrative division
Country	Saudi Arabia
Number	136
Established	1992
Subdivisions	Provinces of Saudi Arabia
Administered by	Governors
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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

• Saudi Arabia portal

• Provinces of Saudi Arabia
• List of cities and towns in Saudi Arabia
• Subdivisions of Saudi Arabia