Dubai
4,114 km²
Guangzhou
7,434 km²
UAE
China
Area Comparison
Dubai is 1.8x smaller than Guangzhou
Population Comparison
Dubai has 5.6x fewer people than Guangzhou
Guangzhou is significantly larger, covering 1.8 times the area of Dubai. Guangzhou spans 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) while Dubai covers 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) — a difference of 3,320 km².
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Guangzhou at 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Dubai's 4,114 km² is about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris. For Guangzhou, that's about 1,000,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Manhattan, or 71 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "City of Gold", Dubai covers 4,114 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 1833. Dubai is known for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Dubai Metro.
Dubai's population reached 4 million in 2025, with 92% of residents being expatriates rather than UAE nationals.
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong in southern China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of Macau, Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the Silk Road.
Also known as "Canton", Guangzhou has an area of 7,434 km² and is home to 18.7 million people. It was founded around 214 BC. Visitors come for Canton Tower, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Guangzhou Metro.
Guangzhou boasts a history of over 2,200 years and served as a major terminus of the ancient Silk Road
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Guangzhou, with 2,513 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Guangzhou is dramatically more crowded, with 3.1x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Guangzhou (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Guangzhou experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Guangzhou, it's 8:00 AM in Dubai — a 4-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Guangzhou is 3.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Guangzhou is ~2,047 years older
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).
Guangzhou covers 7,434 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Wuhan (8,569 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Shanghai (6,341 km²), Melbourne (9,993 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Guangzhou is 5,842 km (3,630 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 22m.
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