A is a first-level administrative division of many Arab countries, and a second-level administrative division in Saudi Arabia. The term is usually translated as "governorate", and occasionally as "province".
It comes from the Arabic root , , (verb: , ), which means to "keep" and "guard".
The head of a is a governor (Arabic: , ) .
The governorates of Tunisia are wilāyah in Arabic.
Muhafazat in Arab countries
Governorates of Bahrain Governorates of Egypt Governorates of Iraq Governorates of Jordan Governorates of Kuwait Governorates of Libya (historic) Governorates of Lebanon Governorates of Oman Governorates of Palestine Governorates of Saudi Arabia (2nd level) Governorates of Syria Governorates of Yemen
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