City Map Compare/Abu Dhabi vs Washington D.C.
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5 km
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Abu Dhabi

972 km²

Washington D.C.

177 km²

Abu Dhabi vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Abu Dhabi vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Area972 km²
Population1.57M
Density1,615 /km²
Elevation14 m
Climatedesert climate
Washington D.C.

USA

Area177 km²
Population0.69M
Density3,898 /km²
Elevation22 m
Metro Pop.6.3M
Founded1790
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Abu Dhabi is 5.5x larger than Washington D.C.

Population Comparison

Abu Dhabi has 2.3x more people than Washington D.C.

Is Abu Dhabi Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

Abu Dhabi is significantly larger, covering 5.5 times the area of Washington D.C.. Abu Dhabi spans 972 km² (375 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 795 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Abu Dhabi approximately 5 times.

To put Abu Dhabi's size in perspective, its area of 972 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..

Abu Dhabi's footprint is roughly about 136,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Washington D.C., by comparison, equals about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.

About Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's second-most populous city, after Dubai. The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Persian Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE.

Abu Dhabi covers 972 km² with a population of 1.6 million. Abu Dhabi is known for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace, among other attractions.

Abu Dhabi sits on a T-shaped island extending into the Persian Gulf from the UAE's central-western coast.

About Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.

Also known as "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.

Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east

Population Density

Abu Dhabi has a population density of 1,615 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Abu Dhabi has a desert climate climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Washington D.C. fits inside Abu Dhabi ~5 times

Density Gap

Washington D.C. is 2.4x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi covers 972 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Diego (964 km²), Dallas (997 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Hong Kong (1,114 km²), or Santiago (838 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Abu Dhabi bigger than Washington D.C.?
Abu Dhabi is 5.5 times larger than Washington D.C. by area. Abu Dhabi covers 972 km² while Washington D.C. spans 177 km², a difference of 795 km².
How many times does Washington D.C. fit inside Abu Dhabi?
Washington D.C. (177 km²) fits inside Abu Dhabi (972 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Abu Dhabi is 5.5x the area of Washington D.C..
What is the population difference between Abu Dhabi and Washington D.C.?
Abu Dhabi has approximately 1.6 million people, while Washington D.C. has about 0.7 million. Abu Dhabi has 0.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Abu Dhabi or Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is more densely populated with 3,898 people per km², compared to 1,615 people per km².
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Abu Dhabi and Washington D.C.

The straight-line distance from Abu Dhabi to Washington D.C. is 11,344 km (7,049 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 51m.

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