What is the Difference Between a Governorate and a Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is administratively divided into provinces followed by governorates. The province is known as the supreme administrative authority. Each province has an administrative capital that represents the basic unit of government, and includes the seat of the emirate. The Kingdom manages thirteen administrative provinces, and each one operates within a specific geographical scope.

Governorates are administrative units that are smaller than provinces, and are linked to the province's governor. They are classified into categories (A) and (B,) and are administered by a Royal Decree, as per a recommendation from the Minister of Interior. The Kingdom includes 135 governorates in total. Riyadh has the most number of governorates, compared to others, with twenty-two governorates under its wing. On the other hand, al-Jawf comprises only three governorates.

Saudi provinces are as follows: Riyadh, Makkah al-Mukarramah, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Qassim, Eastern Province, Aseer, al-Bahah, Jazan, Najran, Hail, al-Jawf, Tabuk, and the Northern Borders Province.