Riyadh Province

Riyadh Province
منطقة الرياض
Province
Map of Saudi Arabia with Riyadh Province highlighted
Map of Saudi Arabia with Riyadh Province highlighted
Coordinates: 23°0′N 45°30′E / 23.000°N 45.500°E / 23.000; 45.500
Country Saudi Arabia
RegionNajd
SeatRiyadh
Governorates22
Government
 • TypeRoyal Commission / Municipality
 • Body
 • GovernorFaisal bin Bandar
Area
 • Total
380,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
8,591,748
 • Density23/km2 (59/sq mi)
GDP
 • TotalUS$243.8 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC+03:00 (SAST)
Area code011
ISO 3166 codeSA-01
Websitewww.riyadh.gov.sa

Riyadh Province is a province in central Saudi Arabia, covering much of the historic Najd region in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. Its administrative seat is Riyadh, the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. With a population of 8,591,748 in 2022, it is the most populous province in the Kingdom and the second-largest by area after the Eastern Province.

Population

Population development since 1992:

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19923,834,986—    
20045,458,273+42.3%
20106,792,776+24.4%
20228,591,748+26.5%
Source:

Governorates

Riyadh Province is divided into 22 governorates, which are classified into Category A and Category B. The province also includes the new city of Qiddiya, which is located within the province and is being developed as a new urban area.


Map of Riyadh Province
Governorate Category Population (2022)
Al-Kharj A 373,177
Al-Dawadmi A 200,620
Majmaah A 151,877
Diriyah A 95,834
Wadi Al-Dawasir A 91,535
Al-Zulfi A 74,903
Afif A 71,616
Al-Quway'iyah A 71,410
Al-Muzahmiyya B 62,760
Al-Dilam B 54,822
Al-Aflaj A 54,544
Shaqra A 46,403
Hotat Bani Tamim A 41,854
Rimah B 35,683
Al-Sulayyil B 35,271
Al-Rayn [ar] B 28,243
Dhurma B 26,299
Huraymila B 21,758
Thadig B 12,510
Al-Ghat A 10,799
Al-Hariq B 10,864
Marat B 9,846

Transportation

Airport

King Khalid International Airport

Riyadh Province is served by King Khalid International Airport, an international and domestic hub located north of the capital city. Plans are underway to develop King Salman International Airport, which will encompass the existing airport facility and serve as the base for Riyadh Air to expand international aviation connections.

Inland Port

A freight train on the line near Dhahran

As an inland territory, the province uses the Riyadh Dry Port as its central logistics and trade connection point. Linked by the Dammam–Riyadh railway line to the Arabian Gulf coast, this facility handles customs, container processing, and distribution for goods entering local industrial markets.

Road and rail

KAFD Station on the Riyadh Metro

The province is a node in the national highway network, centered on Highway 40 which connects Mecca to the west and Dammam to the east. Urban transit includes the Riyadh Metro network, which operates driverless trains across six lines to service Riyadh city. Regionally, the railway network links the province to the Al-Jouf, Hail, and Al-Qassim provinces, while the planned Saudi Landbridge Project is designed to establish a rail link west to Jeddah.

Provincial government

The province is governed by a governor (Emir) appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia, assisted by a deputy governor.

GovernorTerm of officeMonarch(s)
Office established
Nasser bin Abdulaziz1937 – 1947Abdulaziz
Sultan bin Abdulaziz29 May 1947 – 19 December 1952
Nayef bin Abdulaziz (on behalf of Sultan)3 March – 19 December 1952
Nayef bin Abdulaziz20 December 1952 – 18 April 1955
Salman bin Abdulaziz (on behalf of Nayef)16 March 1954 – 18 April 1955Saud
Salman bin Abdulaziz (1st term)18 April 1955 – 22 September 1960
Turki II bin Abdulaziz (on behalf of Salman)10 – 21 October 1957; 31 October 1960
Fawaz bin Abdulaziz11 September 1961 – 20 January 1963
Badr bin Saud20 January – 5 February 1963
Salman bin Abdulaziz (2nd term)5 February 1963 – 5 November 2011Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, Abdullah
Sattam bin Abdulaziz5 November 2011 – 12 February 2013Abdullah
Khalid bin Bandar14 February 2013 – 14 May 2014
Turki bin Abdullah14 May 2014 – 29 January 2015Abdullah, Salman
Faisal bin Bandar29 January 2015 – presentSalman

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Arabic: منطقة الرياض, romanized: Minṭaqat ar-Riyāḍ; also known as the Riyadh Region and officially as the Emirate of Riyadh Province.

References

  1. ↑ "Riyadh Province". Saudipedia. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Saudi Arabia: Regions & Major Cities – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de.
  3. ↑ "Administrative divisions of Saudi Arabia". Saudipedia. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Foster + Partners to design King Salman International Airport in Saudi Arabia". Dezeen. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Howard, Gary (1 May 2024). "Al Jubail and Riyadh Dry Port connected in first rail cargo operation". Seatrade Maritime News. Retrieved 24 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Longest driverless metro network". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport". RCRC. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Emirate of Riyadh Province". Saudipedia. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2026.