Chennai
427 km²
Dubai
4,114 km²
City Map Compare/Chennai vs Dubaivs
vs
5 km
India
United Arab Emirates
Area Comparison
Chennai is 9.6x smaller than Dubai
Population Comparison
Chennai has 2.0x more people than Dubai
Yes — Dubai is 9.6x larger than Chennai by area. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 3,687 km². You could fit Chennai inside Dubai approximately 9 times.
To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Dubai at 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island.
In more relatable units, Chennai's 427 km² is about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan. Dubai works out to about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris.
Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.
Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 427 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.
Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. It is on a creek on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. As of 2025, its population stands at 4 million, 92% of whom are expatriates. The wider urban area includes Sharjah and has a population of 5 million people as of 2023, while the Dubai–Sharjah–Ajman metropolitan area has a population of 6 million people.
Often called "City of Gold", Dubai has an area of 4,114 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. It was established in 1833. Visitors come for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Dubai Metro.
Dubai's population reached 4 million in 2025, with 92% of residents being expatriates rather than UAE nationals.
Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Dubai, with 809 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 19.1x the population density.
Size Ratio
Chennai fits inside Dubai ~9 times
Density Gap
Chennai is 19.1x more densely populated
History
Chennai is ~194 years older
Chennai covers 427 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Oslo (454 km²), Denver (401 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Philadelphia (370 km²).
Dubai covers 4,114 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Karachi (3,527 km²), Hanoi (3,359 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chennai to Dubai is 2,944 km (1,829 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 58m.
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