governorates

Governorates are administrative divisions used in several countries to organize the central government’s regional administration. They are typically governed by a governor who represents the central government and oversees security, public services, and development within the territory. The governorate usually contains districts or municipalities and may include rural areas and towns; powers and autonomy vary by country.

The term is commonly used in English as a translation of terms such as muhafazah in Arabic or gouvernorat in French, though not all countries with governorates share the same structures. In practice, the level functions as a top tier of local administration in some states, while in others it operates with limited local autonomy and strong central oversight.

Examples and variation exist across the world. Egypt has 27 governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the president to implement national policy and manage regional services. Jordan uses 12 governorates, with governors serving as the central government's representatives at the regional level. Tunisia has 24 governorates, each led by a wali representing the central authority. Syria maintains 14 governorates as its top subnational units, with governors appointed by the central government. Oman has 11 governorates, which are divided into smaller administrative units. In Iraq, the top divisions are called muhafazat and are commonly translated as governorates, though the terminology reflects local administrative history. In some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, the corresponding subdivisions are called emirates rather than governorates.