Law of Provinces in the Kingdom

The Law of Provinces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a law focusing on the administrative regulation of provinces and their constituents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It delineates the process for appointing province governors, vice-governors, and undersecretaries, outlining their responsibilities. Additionally, it outlines the composition and formation of the council of each province, detailing the authority, powers, and duties of council members.

The Law of Provinces was issued by a Royal Order on March 1, 1992, during the reign of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Numerous articles of the Law of Provinces were amended by Royal Order on September 17, 1993. The Implementing Regulations of the Law of Provinces was issued in 2008.

Law of Provinces aims to regulate the work of each of the Kingdom's thirteen provinces, improve administrative work and development in each province, uphold security, and ensure citizens' rights and freedoms within the bounds of Islamic Sharia.

Each province is administratively composed of governorates, counties, and centers, with due consideration to the factors of demography, geography, security, environmental conditions, and transportation routes. The governorate is regulated by Royal Order, based on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior. The establishment and affiliation of counties and centers are issued by a resolution of the Minister of Interior, based on the proposal of the province governor.

The Law of Provinces stipulates that each province shall have a governor with the rank of minister. He shall also have a deputy governor of grade excellent who shall assist him in his duties and act on his behalf during his absence. The governor and deputy governor shall be appointed and relieved from office by Royal Order, upon the recommendation of the Minister of Interior.

One or more undersecretaries are appointed for each province, holding a rank no lower than fourteenth. Additionally, each governorate is overseen by a mayor, also holding a rank of no less than fourteenth. These appointments are made by order of the Prime Minister, based on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior. The governorate shall have an undersecretary with a rank no lower than twelfth, appointed by a decision of the Minister of Interior, upon the province governor's recommendation.

Each province governor in the Kingdom assumes the administration of the province according to the public policy of the State, as well as the provisions of this law and other laws and regulations. In particular, he must maintain security, order, and stability, and take necessary measures to that aim in accordance with the laws and regulations; safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals, and refrain from any action affecting such rights and freedoms except within the limits of Sharia and the law; promote the social, economic, and urban development of the province; develop public services in the province; protect State property and assets; oversee government agencies and their employees; and have direct contact with ministers and heads of agencies and review the affairs of the province with them to improve the performance of the agencies affiliated with them.

For each province in the Kingdom, a council called the provincial council is established, and its seat is at the Emirate of the province. The council is composed of the governor of the province (chairman), the vice-governor of the province (vice-chairman), the undersecretary of the province, heads of government agencies in the province, and a minimum of ten citizens known for their knowledge, expertise, and specialization. Their term of membership is four renewable years. A council member must be a Saudi national by descent and upbringing, a person well-known for uprightness and competence, not less than thirty years of age, and a resident of the province.