Dubai
4,114 km²
Madrid
604 km²
UAE
Spain
Area Comparison
Dubai is 6.8x larger than Madrid
Population Comparison
Dubai has 1.0x fewer people than Madrid
Yes — Dubai is 6.8x larger than Madrid by area. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 3,510 km². You could fit Madrid inside Dubai approximately 6 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
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. Madrid works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).
Nicknamed "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Madrid Metro.
Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Madrid is dramatically more crowded, with 6.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Dubai in Asia versus Madrid in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Madrid experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Dubai averages 36°C compared to 26°C in Madrid. When it's noon in Dubai, it's 9:00 AM in Madrid — a 3-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Madrid fits inside Dubai ~6 times
Density Gap
Madrid is 6.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Madrid is ~981 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).
Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Madrid is 5,656 km (3,514 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 9m.
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