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Who runs local government in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 regions, each run by a prince (emir) appointed by the King, then 136 governorates and smaller centres with appointed heads. The only elected local bodies are 285 municipal councils, created by law in the 1970s and first elected in 2005; under the 2014 law two-thirds of members are elected. No municipal election has been held since 2015, and the councils are advisory.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia · Unitary absolute monarchy · Western Asia

The levels of government below the nation

Level	How it is chosen	What it does
Regions (emirates/provinces, 13)	Emir (a royal family member) appointed by royal order at ministerial rank; regional council of officials plus at least ten appointed citizens	Security, development planning and oversight of ministries in the region, under the 1992 Law of the Provinces.
Governorates (136) and centres	Governors and directors appointed by the Prime Minister or Interior Minister on the emir's recommendation	Law and order and supervision of local services.
Municipalities (285) and municipal councils	Mayor (head of municipality) appointed; council two-thirds elected, one-third appointed (2014 Municipal Councils Law)	Councils monitor and approve plans and budgets; municipalities handle planning, roads, cleaning and markets under the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.

Three questions about local power in Saudi Arabia

Are local leaders elected?

Two-thirds of municipal councillors were elected in 2015 (the rest appointed). Emirs, governors, mayors and umdas are appointed. Tribal sheikhs are chosen within tribes.

Which laws set up local government?

The 1992 Basic Law of Governance and Law of the Provinces, and the 2014 Municipal Councils Law, set the formal structure. Tribal mediation and the majlis are customary, though officials take part in them.

Who are local leaders accountable to?

Elected councillors face voters only when elections are held. The central government can dissolve councils and remove members; emirs and governors answer to the King and Interior Ministry.

Traditional and customary authority

Tribal sheikhs and leading families remain socially significant, especially outside the big cities; they mediate disputes and raise members' needs with emirs and governors, who hold open majlis sessions. Senior Islamic scholars (the Council of Senior Scholars) and the courts, which apply sharia, carry religious authority nationally. Neighbourhood headmen (umda) are appointed by local authorities in cities such as Jeddah and Mecca to link residents with officials.

Community and neighbourhood power

The majlis, an open audience held by emirs, governors and notables, is a traditional channel for petitions. Charitable associations and neighbourhood centres are registered with the state. Vision 2030 programmes aim to strengthen municipal planning, but they are directed from the centre.

Points to know

The 2015 municipal elections were the first in which Saudi women could vote and stand; about 20 women won seats.
Municipal elections were held in 2005, 2011 and 2015; the round due in 2019 was postponed and council terms were extended.
Riyadh, Mecca, Medina and some other cities have special development authorities with their own budgets.

Local terms

Emir (of a region): A prince appointed by the King to govern one of the 13 regions.
Umda: An appointed neighbourhood headman who links residents to the authorities.

Sources

Saudi Arabia: country profile, OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
Saudi Arabia's Basic Law of Governance 1992 (rev. 2013), including the Law of the Provinces, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
Elections in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi National Portal (my.gov.sa), checked 14 October 2026
Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (official site), Government of Saudi Arabia, checked 14 October 2026