List of governorates of Saudi Arabia
 | |
| Native name | محافظات |
|---|---|
| Type | Second-level administrative division |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| Number | 139 |
| Established | 1992 |
| Subdivisions | Markazes |
| Government | Appointed governors |
| Largest governorate | Al-Ahsa (375,000 km²)[1] |
| Smallest governorate | Fayfa (160 km²)[2] |
The governorates of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: محافظات), are the second-level administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are subdivisions of the country's 13 provinces and are further divided into markazes.[3]
History
[edit]The Provinces System was established in 1992 under a royal order by King Fahd, initially creating 118 governorates. The system aimed to decentralize governance and improve administrative efficiency by expanding local authority 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.[4]
Classification
[edit]Governorates are classified based on population, availability of public services, geographic and environmental factors, and transportation infrastructure into two levels: Governorate (A) and Governorate (B).
This classification is established in Article 3 of the Provinces System issued by King Fahd in 1992 and amended in 1993.[5][6]
Governorates
[edit]
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Umluj | A | 69,656 |
| Al-Wajh | A | 49,948 |
| Duba | A | 54,917 |
| Tayma | A | 42,165 |
| Haql | B | 27,712 |
| Al-Bad' | B | 17,973 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Hait | B | 74,596 |
| Baqaa | A | 56,362 |
| Shanan | B | 29,419 |
| Shamli | B | 20,946 |
| Sumairah | B | 19,563 |
| Sulaimi | B | 17,343 |
| Mawqaq | B | 16,835 |
| Ghazalah | B | 12,767 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Rafha | A | 84,536 |
| Turaif | A | 66,004 |
| Al-Uwayqilah | B | 20,318 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Yanbu | A | 359,631 |
| al-Ula | A | 60,103 |
| Badr | B | 58,259 |
| Mahd | A | 48,590 |
| Khaybar | B | 45,532 |
| Al-Hunakiyah | A | 43,256 |
| Wadi al-Fara | B | 23,120 |
| Al-Ais | B | 22,445 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahsa | A | 1,104,267 |
| Khobar | A | 658,550 |
| Qatif | A | 552,442 |
| Jubail | A | 505,162 |
| Hafar al-Batin | A | 467,007 |
| Khafji | A | 84,316 |
| Nariyah | B | 63,815 |
| Abqaiq | B | 64,632 |
| Ras Tanura | B | 62,314 |
| Qaryat al-Ulya | B | 21,788 |
| Al-Udeid | B | 8,635 |
| Al-Bayda | B | — |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Sharurah | A | 100,199 |
| Habona | B | 24,823 |
| Yadamah | B | 16,160 |
| Thar | B | 13,391 |
| Badr Al-Janub | B | 7,991 |
| Khubash | B | 7,834 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Qurayyat | A | 195,016 |
| Dumat al-Jandal | A | 54,341 |
| Tabarjal | B | 109,796 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Unaizah | A | 184,644 |
| Ar Rass | A | 121,359 |
| Al-Bukiryah | A | 63,551 |
| Al-Badai' | A | 53,779 |
| Al-Mithnab | A | 43,278 |
| Al-Nabhaniyah | B | 46,558 |
| Asyah | B | 35,533 |
| Riyadh Al-Khabra | B | 31,203 |
| Uyun Al-Jiwa | B | 29,178 |
| Dhariyah | B | 20,826 |
| Uqlat Al-Suqur | B | 20,805 |
| Al-Shimasiyah | B | 7,818 |
| Abanat | B | — |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Baljurashi | A | 51,787 |
| Al-Mikhwah | A | 48,333 |
| Al-Aqiq | B | 37,608 |
| Qilwah | B | 31,197 |
| Al-Mandaq | A | 20,010 |
| Al-Qura | B | 19,586 |
| Bani Hasan | B | 15,496 |
| Far'at Ghamid az-Zinad | B | 12,506 |
| Al-Hujrah | B | 12,136 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah | A | 3,751,722 |
| Taif | A | 913,374 |
| Al-Qunfudhah | A | 205,188 |
| Rabigh | A | 112,383 |
| Bahrah | A | 94,603 |
| Al-Jumum | B | 89,575 |
| Al-Lith | A | 73,753 |
| Al-Ardiyat | B | 65,078 |
| Khulays | A | 51,338 |
| Ranyah | A | 49,854 |
| Turubah | A | 41,769 |
| Al-Khurmah | A | 38,744 |
| Adum | B | 33,958 |
| Al-Muwayh | B | 29,065 |
| Maysan | B | 28,765 |
| Al-Kamil | B | 14,370 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Kharj | A | 373,177 |
| Al-Dawadmi | A | 200,620 |
| Majmaah | A | 151,877 |
| Diriyah | A | 95,834 |
| Wadi Al-Dawasir | A | 91,535 |
| Al-Zulfi | A | 74,903 |
| Afif | A | 71,616 |
| Al-Quway'iyah | A | 71,410 |
| Al-Muzahmiyya | B | 62,760 |
| Al-Dilam | B | 54,822 |
| Al-Aflaj | A | 54,544 |
| Shaqra | A | 46,403 |
| Hotat Bani Tamim | A | 41,854 |
| Rimah | B | 35,683 |
| Al-Sulayyil | B | 35,271 |
| Al-Rayn | B | 28,243 |
| Dhurma | B | 26,299 |
| Huraymila | B | 21,758 |
| Thadig | B | 12,510 |
| Al-Ghat | A | 10,799 |
| Al-Hariq | B | 10,864 |
| Marat | B | 9,846 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Khamis Mushait | A | 601,305 |
| Muhayil | A | 230,537 |
| Bisha | A | 202,096 |
| Ahad Rafidah | B | 107,894 |
| Balqarn | B | 60,012 |
| Sarat Ubaida | B | 57,123 |
| Rijal Almaa | B | 50,825 |
| Al-Majaridah | B | 48,302 |
| Bariq | B | 44,880 |
| Al-Namas | A | 38,409 |
| Tathlith | A | 36,451 |
| Dhahran Al-Janub | A | 32,099 |
| Al-Birk | B | 22,583 |
| Tarib | B | 22,298 |
| Al-Harjah | B | 18,503 |
| Tanomah | B | 17,756 |
| Al-Amwah | B | 10,969 |
| Governorate | Category | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Sabya | A | 223,083 |
| Abu 'Arish | A | 187,060 |
| Samtah | A | 154,926 |
| Ahad Al-Masarihah | B | 130,545 |
| Baish | B | 86,996 |
| Al-Ardah | B | 79,730 |
| Al-Darb | B | 68,965 |
| Damad | B | 64,136 |
| Al-Dayer | B | 47,424 |
| Al-Tuwal | B | 36,259 |
| Al-Eidabi | B | 32,940 |
| Harub | B | 30,709 |
| Fayfa | B | 19,346 |
| Ar Rayth | B | 16,877 |
| Farasan Islands | B | 13,529 |
| Al-Harth | B | 11,561 |
Defunct governorates
[edit]- Al-Kharkhir Governorate of Najran Province was the only Saudi governorate to be abolished by royal decree in 2014, with its administrative centres and population transferred to Sharurah Governorate.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Al-Ahsa Governorate". Saudipedia. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "What Is the Smallest Governorate in Saudi Arabia by Area?". Saudipedia. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ "Administrative divisions of Saudi Arabia". Saudipedia. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia Regions". www.statoids.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ↑ "Organization of the Emirate of Makkah Province". Ministry of Interior.
- ↑ "إلغاء محافظة الخرخير: أمر ملكي جديد". تغطيات (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-03-11.