Dubai
4,114 km²
Karachi
3,527 km²
UAE
Pakistan
Area Comparison
Dubai is 1.2x larger than Karachi
Population Comparison
Dubai has 4.5x fewer people than Karachi
Yes — Dubai is 1.2x larger than Karachi by area. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Karachi covers 3,527 km² (1,362 mi²) — a difference of 587 km².
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Karachi at 3,527 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Rhode Island.
Picture Dubai another way: its area is large enough to fit about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris. Karachi, by comparison, equals about 494,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Manhattan, or 33 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.
Karachi is the capital city of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the largest city in Pakistan and 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast and formerly served as the country's capital from 1947 to 1959. Ranked as a beta-global city, it is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre, with an estimated GDP of over $200 billion (PPP) as of 2021.
Also known as "City of Lights", Karachi has an area of 3,527 km² and is home to 14.9 million people. The city dates back to 1729. Visitors come for Port of Karachi, Mazar-e-Quaid mausoleum, Clifton Beach, and much more.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Karachi, with 4,227 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Karachi is dramatically more crowded, with 5.2x the population density.
Density Gap
Karachi is 5.2x more densely populated
History
Karachi is ~104 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).
Karachi covers 3,527 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hanoi (3,359 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), or Moscow (2,511 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Karachi is 1,183 km (735 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 54m.
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