Dubai
4,114 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
UAE
USA
Area Comparison
Dubai is 3.2x larger than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Dubai has 1.2x fewer people than Los Angeles
In terms of area, Dubai is 3.2x the size of Los Angeles. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 2,812 km². You could fit Los Angeles inside Dubai approximately 3 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
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. Los Angeles, by comparison, equals about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Often called "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. It was established in 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Los Angeles is dramatically more crowded, with 3.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Dubai in Asia versus Los Angeles in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Los Angeles experiences Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Dubai averages 36°C compared to 24°C in Los Angeles. When it's noon in Dubai, it's midnight in Los Angeles — a 12-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Los Angeles fits inside Dubai ~3 times
Density Gap
Los Angeles is 3.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
12 hours apart
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).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Los Angeles is 13,391 km (8,320 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 15m.
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