| Provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia مناطق المملكة العربية السعودية | |
|---|---|
| Category | Provinces within a unitary state |
| Location | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Number | 13 |
| Populations | 373,577 (Northern Borders Province) – 8,591,748 (Riyadh Province) |
| Areas | 9,920 km2 (3,831 sq mi) (Al-Baha Province) – 672,520 km2 (259,662 sq mi) (Eastern Province) |
| Government |
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| Subdivisions | |
The provinces of Saudi Arabia, also called regions, are the 13 first-level administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Each province is headed by a governor and serves as the primary administrative unit of the country. [1] [2] [3]
Prior to the unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the Arabian Peninsula was composed of several distinct regions, many of which had been part of or influenced by the Ottoman Empire, including the Hejaz Vilayet and the Lahsa Eyalet. Earlier in the region’s history, the First Saudi state and the Second Saudi state had established Saudi rule over much of Najd and its surroundings, laying the groundwork for later unification efforts. After unification, these historical regions — such as Najd, Asir — along with former Ottoman territories like Hejaz, formed the basis for the kingdom’s evolving administrative divisions, which were later reorganized into modern provinces. [1]
King Fahd issued Royal Order A/92 on March 2, 1992, known as Law of the Provinces, [4] which provided for the division of the kingdom into 13 provinces. Subsequently, the five previous provinces were divided into thirteen provinces, called provinces (manātiq), each governed by administrative bodies called the emirates of the provinces (imārāt al-manātiq). The provinces form the first-level administrative division of the Organization of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and are further divided into 136 governorates (muḥāfaẓāt), which are the second-level division, [3] which are further subdivided into 1,347 municipal-level units (marakiz), and further subdivided into villages (qura) and neighborhoods (ahya).
Each province is governed by an Emir (provincial governor), who is assisted by the deputy emir, called nā'ib. The persons holding these positions are appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia. The emir is given the rank of minister, while the deputy emir is given the rank of excellence. [3]
| # | Province | Historical region | Seat / Largest city | Governorates | Marakiz | Population (2022 census) [5] | Area (km2) | Density (per km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asir Province | South Arabia | Abha / Khamis Mushait | 17 | 101 | 2,024,285 | 76,693 | 26.40 |
| 2 | Al-Baha Province | Hejaz | Al-Baha | 9 | 35 | 339,174 | 9,921 | 34.20 |
| 3 | Al-Jawf Province | Badiyat al-Sham | Sakaka | 3 | 33 | 595,822 | 100,212 | 5.95 |
| 4 | Al-Qassim Province | Najd | Buraydah | 12 | 153 | 1,336,179 | 58,046 | 23.01 |
| 5 | Eastern Province | Eastern Arabia | Dammam | 12 | 107 | 5,125,254 | 672,522 | 7.62 |
| 6 | Hail Province | Najd | Hail | 8 | 84 | 746,406 | 103,887 | 7.19 |
| 7 | Jazan Province | South Arabia | Jizan | 16 | 31 | 1,404,997 | 11,671 | 120.43 |
| 8 | Mecca Province | Hejaz | Mecca / Jeddah | 17 | 111 | 7,769,994 | 153,128 | 50.76 |
| 9 | Medina Province | Hejaz | Medina | 8 | 90 | 2,389,452 | 151,990 | 15.72 |
| 10 | Najran Province | South Arabia | Najran | 6 | 59 | 592,300 | 149,511 | 3.96 |
| 11 | Northern Borders Province | Badiyat al-Sham | Arar | 3 | 17 | 373,577 | 111,797 | 3.34 |
| 12 | Riyadh Province | Najd | Riyadh | 22 | 453 | 8,591,748 | 404,240 | 21.25 |
| 13 | Tabuk Province | Hejaz | Tabuk | 6 | 73 | 886,036 | 146,072 | 6.07 |
| Total | 13 | 139 | 1,347 | 32,175,224 | 2,149,690 | 14.97 | ||
| Code | Province (EN) | Province (AR) |
|---|---|---|
| SA-14 | Asir Province | عسير |
| SA-11 | Al-Baha Province | الباحة |
| SA-08 | Northern Borders Province | الحدود الشمالية |
| SA-12 | Al-Jawf Province | الجوف |
| SA-03 | Medina Province | المدينة المنورة |
| SA-05 | Al-Qassim Province | القصيم |
| SA-01 | Riyadh Province | الرياض |
| SA-04 | Eastern Province | الشرقية |
| SA-06 | Hail Province | حائل |
| SA-09 | Jazan Province | جازان |
| SA-02 | Mecca Province | مكة |
| SA-10 | Najran Province | نجران |
| SA-07 | Tabuk Province | تبوك |