Dubai
4,114 km²
Lisbon
100 km²
UAE
Portugal
Area Comparison
Dubai is 41.1x larger than Lisbon
Population Comparison
Dubai has 6.1x more people than Lisbon
In terms of area, Dubai is 41.1x the size of Lisbon. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 4,014 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Dubai approximately 41 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).
Dubai's footprint is roughly about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Lisbon, that's about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.
Often called "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. The city dates back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lisbon is dramatically more crowded, with 6.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Dubai in Asia versus Lisbon in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Lisbon experiences Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Dubai averages 36°C compared to 23°C in Lisbon. When it's noon in Dubai, it's 8:00 AM in Lisbon — a 4-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Lisbon fits inside Dubai ~41 times
Density Gap
Lisbon is 6.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Lisbon is ~3,033 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).
Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Lisbon is 6,133 km (3,811 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 43m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.