The kingdom is divided into 13 emirates, each headed by a crown-appointed governor, often a prince or other member of the royal household or from an allied family. The provinces are subdivided into 103 governorates. Tribal and village leaders (sheikhs) report directly to provincial governors, giving the central government some control over outlying regions. Provincial governors, in turn, report to the Minister of the Interior. Each sheikh traditionally rules in consultation with a council. A large segment of the population remains tribally organized: tribes, headed by paramount sheikhs, are divided into subtribes, headed by local sheikhs. Decisions are made by tribal sheikhs, emirs, or other chiefs and their councils ( majlis ).
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: