Saudi Arabia Administrative Divisions

Name: Saudi Arabia Administrative Divisions Dataset
Creator: GeoPostcodes
License: https://www.geopostcodes.com/pricing/

What is the hierarchy of administrative divisions in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia operates on a 2‑level system starting with 13 regions, followed by governorates as the smallest administrative units.

Here’s a breakdown of the hierarchy:

1. Regions: Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 regions.

2. Governorates: Each region is subdivided into governorates.

3. Centers: Governorates are further subdivided into centers, which are the smallest administrative units.

List of Saudi Arabia's administrative divisions with their counts and names

These are the summarized administrative divisions. The full dataset is available in the Download Center.

iso	country	admin level 1	admin level 2	admin level 3	admin level 4
SA	Saudi Arabia	Al Bahah (Region)	7 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Al Jawf (Region)	3 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Al Madinah (Region)	7 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Al Qassim (Region)	11 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Asir (Region)	12 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Eastern region (Region)	11 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Ha'il (Region)	4 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Jizan (Region)	14 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Makkah (Region)	12 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Najran (Region)	8 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Northern borders (Region)	3 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Riyadh (Region)	20 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
SA	Saudi Arabia	Tabuk (Region)	6 Governorates	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	This level doesn’t exist for this country.

Why is building an Administrative Divisions Database complex?

The complexity arises from inconsistent global standards, frequent boundary changes, non-uniform naming conventions (e.g., “suburb” in Australia vs. “county” in the US), and variations in administrative levels across countries. Integrating and harmonizing data from multiple sources requires advanced normalization, versioning, and geospatial validation techniques.

How does GeoPostcodes solve the problem for you?

Our standardized database overcomes the complexity of different administrative division
systems worldwide. Our database follows a unified structure that you can integrate
seamlessly into your system or platform of choice without needing to become an expert in
each country’s unique administrative hierarchy.

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Our location dataset for Saudi Arabia

Explore our comprehensive collection of Saudi Arabia ZIP code and administrative data products, designed to meet all your mapping and location intelligence needs.

Saudi Arabia ZIP Codes

Saudi Arabia uses a “Postal code” system, which is a five-digit numeric format, like 99999, with no letters or separators. This means it uses only numbers, and is the same as the US ZIP codes. According to the GeoPostcodes world postal code database, Saudi Arabia has 12,730 postal codes covering 131 regions and 2,542 towns.

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Related Countries

United Arab Emirates

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Turkey

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Updated: July 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the administrative divisions of Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 regions (مناطق), which form the top-level administrative units. These are subdivided into 118 governorates (محافظات). The smallest administrative level consists of 1,260 sub-governorates (مركز). Major regions include Al Bahah, Al Jawf, and Al Madinah.

How many administrative levels does Saudi Arabia have?

Saudi Arabia has 3 administrative levels. Level 1: 13 regions (مناطق). Level 2: 118 governorates (محافظات). Level 3: 1,260 sub-governorates (مركز).

How is Saudi Arabia organized into regions?

Saudi Arabia operates on a 2‑level system starting with 13 regions, followed by governorates as the smallest administrative units.

What are administrative divisions called in Arabic?

Saudi administrative divisions have specific local names at each level. In Arabic, regions are called مناطق; governorates are called محافظات; sub-governorates are called مركز. These local-language terms appear in official documents, legal records, and government databases, so matching them correctly is important for data integration and compliance.

How often do administrative boundaries change in Saudi Arabia?

Administrative boundaries in Saudi Arabia change as governments reorganize regions, merge municipalities, or create new administrative units to reflect population shifts and political decisions. Changes most commonly affect the sub-governorates level, where Saudi Arabia currently has 1,260 units. Businesses that rely on Saudi administrative data should use a regularly updated reference dataset to avoid mismatches in geocoding, tax jurisdiction mapping, and compliance reporting.