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.
Contents
Population
Population development since 1992:
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.
Transportation
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
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
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.