The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an advanced administrative organization represented in its division into 13 administrative regions or Provinces, where these administrative regions represent the largest and most important in the administrative structure of the country. These administrative regions include: Sharqiya, Riyadh, Jazan, Najran, Asir, Hail, Makkah, Medina, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Al-Jawf, Northern Borders, and Qassim.

With the division of administrative areas into governorates, these governorates were classified into two categories: category (A) and category (B), based on the level of services available in each governorate. This structural organization reflects the Kingdom's commitment to improving the quality of 

Services and better provision to citizens across the country.

Is Saudi Arabia provinces or emirates?

Many people think that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consists of a group of governorates, when in fact the Kingdom is an emirate that contains governorates according to the administrative arrangement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in this article, we will learn about the emirates and governorates of the Kingdom with Skyline Holding.

List of Saudi Administrative Districts

Riyadh Province

The Province of Riyadh Province occupies a central position in the heart of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, characterized by its strategic location and the continuity of its comprehensive development. Its area extends over an area of about 380,000 km², representing about 17% of the Kingdom's area, making it the second largest administrative area in terms of area after the Eastern Province. It has a population of about 6 million people, and is affected by a continental desert climate, where it is characterized by drought and extreme heat during the summer, and the amount of rainfall in this region decreases, as it does not exceed 84.4 mm annually.

Governorates of Riyadh Province

The Province of Riyadh includes 22 governorates according to the administrative division of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the most prominent of these regions 

• Diriyah
• Al Kharj
• Wadi Al Dawasir
• Bani Tamim

Makkah Province

The Western Province of Saudi Arabia is a unique region, as it is characterized by its important and sacred location, as it hosts the Holy Mosque and the Holy Kaaba, the greatest sites of worship and visit for Muslims in the world. This area is located in the western part of the Kingdom, and is based in the city of Makkah as its capital, with an area of more than 153,000 km². According to 2004 statistics, its population exceeds 5,797,971 people, making it one of the largest population areas in the Kingdom.

Governorates of Makkah Province

Makkah Province includes 16 governorates affiliated to it, the most prominent of which are:

• Jeddah
• Taif
• Al Qunfudhah
• Al Lith

Province of Al-Madinah Province

Located in the western part of Saudi Arabia, Medina is the capital of the province of the same name. Its area extends to more than 151,000 square kilometers, and is characterized by the diversity of its natural terrain, interspersed with mountains, valleys and cliffs. Medina is of great religious importance, as it is the second Islamic capital and the second place in terms of sanctity for Muslims. It has a population of more than one and a half million people, and includes important religious landmarks such as Al-Madinah Mosque (Holy Mosque), the Baqi Cemetery, the Quba Mosque, and the Al-Qiblatain Mosque, in addition to  Mount Uhud, which bears the memory of a historic battle.

Governorates of the Province of Al-Madinah

The Province of Madinah contains 8 governorates according to the division of administrative regions in the Kingdom, such as:

• Yanbu
• AlUlla
• Badr
• Khaybar

Al-Qassim Province

The capital of the Qassim region is the city of Buraydah, and its area extends to more than 70,000 square kilometers. According to statistics, its population has exceeded one million, with about 1,015,972 residents. It is located in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula, and is bordered to the north and northwest by the Hail region, and to the east by Zulfi, while it is bordered to the south by the cities of Al-Sir and Al-Washm of the Riyadh region.

Governorates of Al-Qassim Province

There are 14 governorates belonging to the Province of Qassim Region, such as:

• Unayzah
• Ar Rass
• Al Mithnab
• Al Badayea

Eastern Province (Ash Sharqiyah Region)

The Eastern Province is one of the largest geographical regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it is strategically located on the coasts of the Arabian Gulf. The city of Dammam is the capital and headquarters, and according to statistics in 2004, the population of the region was 3,360,031 people. The Eastern Region extends over a length of approximately 1200 kilometers, covering an area of more than 540,000 square kilometers. It has a temperate climate, seeing high temperatures and humidity during the summer from May to August, while winter temperatures drop from November to February, with the possibility of moderate or low heavy rainfall.

Governorates of the Eastern Province

The Eastern Province according to the administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia includes 12 governorates affiliated to it, such as:

• Al-Ahsa
• Al Khobar
• Hafar Al Batin
• Al Qatif

Asir Province

The city of Abha is the headquarters of the Asir Province in Saudi Arabia, with an area of more than 81,000 km². The city is home to about 2 million people, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the region. The Asir region is characterized by the diversity of its terrain and climate, as it is affected by a temperate climate. Geographically, the area is located above latitudes 17.25 and 19.50 to the north, and above longitudes 50 and 41 to the east.

Governorates of Aseer Province

The Province of Al-Asir Region contains 12 governorates based on the administrative division of the Kingdom, and the most famous of these governorates are:

• Abha
• Khamis Mushait
• Bisha
• Dhahran Al Janub

Tabuk Province

The Tabuk region is the northern gateway to Saudi Arabia, as it is located in the northwestern part of the country, and extends over an area of about 117,000 km². According to 2004 census, it has a population of about 691,716 people. It is bordered to the north by Jordan and shares internal borders with Al Jowf and Hail to the east, while Al Madinah borders it to the south. It is characterized by a water border linking it to the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea on the western side.

Governorates of Tabuk Province

Based on the administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Province of Tabuk Region includes 6 governorates, most notably:

• Al Wajh
• Tayma
• Duba

Hail Province

The Hail region is located in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the city of Hail is its capital. The area extends over an area of about 125,000 km², making it the seventh largest in the Kingdom. Despite its large area, it ranks eighth in terms of population density, with a population of about 732,000 people.

Governorates of Hail Province

The Province of Hail includes 8 governorates affiliated to it, such as:

• Baqaa
• Al Ghazalah
• Ash Shinan

Province of Northern Borders Region

Arar is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia, stretching over an area of about 127,000 km². The city of Arar is the capital of this region, and shares a border with the Republic of Iraq on the northern side. The population of the region is estimated at about 320,000 people. The city of Arar is strategically located on the international roads linking the Arab Gulf countries and the Levant, making it an important stop on trade and travel routes in the region.

Governorates of the Northern Borders Region

• Rafha
• Turaif
• Arar (The Capital of Northern Borders Region)

Jazan Province

The Jazan region is in the far southwest of Saudi Arabia, and Jizan is its capital. 

The area is strategically located as it overlooks the Red Sea, and extends over an area of more than 40,000 km², in addition to an area of more than 80 islands in the Red Sea, most notably Farasan Island, which covers an area of about 702 km². The region also includes the third largest port in the Kingdom in terms of capacity, the port of Jizan.

Governorates of Jazan Province

There are 16 governorates belonging to Najran Province according to the administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, most notably:

• Jazan (Capital of the province)
• Samtah
• Sabya
• Abu Arish

Al Bahah Region

Al Bahah is located in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula region, and is considered one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it is characterized by its vast area of about 36,000 km². According to recent statistics, its population exceeds 500,000. The area enjoys its high mountainous nature, which gives it a charming natural beauty. The climate of Al Bahah is generally arid, warm in summer, mild in spring, and relatively cold in winter.

Governorates of Al Bahah Region

Al Bahah Region includes 9 governorates affiliated to it, such as:

• Al Bahah (Capital)
• Baljurashi
• Al Mandaq
• Al Aqiq

Al Jowf Province

The city of Sakaka in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized as the headquarters and capital of Al-Jawf Governorate, as its borders intersect with Jordan from the northwest, and it is bordered to the south by the regions of Hail and Tabuk. It is bordered on the north and east by the northern border region. Al-Jawf Governorate is famous for olive cultivation, with an area of 100,212 km², while its population is about 508,475 people. It has desert weather, with summers long, hot and dry, while winters are mostly cold and clear.

Governorates of Al-Jawf Region

• Al Qurayyat
• Dumat Al-Jandal
• Tubarjal