Northern Borders Province
The Northern Borders Province is Saudi Arabia’s northernmost region. It borders Jordan to the west and Iraq to the north and northwest. The provincial capital is Arar, and the province includes three governorates.
The region covers about 112,000 square kilometers and has a population of around 374,000 people (as of 2022). It is served by three domestic airports and has strong cross-border connections, including the Jadidat Arar border crossing to Iraq. The crossing was fully reopened in 2020 after being closed in 1990.
Historically a key route for caravans between the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and Mesopotamia, the province has grown in infrastructure and industry in recent decades, especially mining. The Waad Al-Shamal Industrial City is a major mining and industrial hub with large investments.
Geography and climate are desert-like, with hot summers and cold winters; rainfall is scarce and snow can occur in higher areas. The region also contains protected natural reserves such as Mu'ayla, Al-Owaisi, Al-Ghurabah, and part of Harrat Al-Harrah.
Name and administration: Al-Ḥudūd Aš-Šamāliyya means “the Northern Borders,” reflecting its frontier location with Iraq and Jordan. The province is governed by an Emir (governor) appointed by the King, with a deputy governor, and its three governorates share administrative duties.
Education and people: Northern Borders University is based in Arar, with campuses in Rafha, Turaif, and Al-Uwayqilah, offering programs across many fields. The province also has public schools and technical-vocational training institutions.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:49 (CET).