Dubai
4,114 km²
Manila
43 km²
UAE
Philippines
Area Comparison
Dubai is 95.7x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Dubai has 1.8x more people than Manila
In terms of area, Dubai is 95.7x the size of Manila. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 4,071 km². You could fit Manila inside Dubai approximately 95 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
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 Manila, that's about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Often called "Pearl of the Orient", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. The city dates back to 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 53.2x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Manila (Philippines) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Manila experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Manila, it's 8:00 AM in Dubai — a 4-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Dubai ~95 times
Density Gap
Manila is 53.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Manila is ~262 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).
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Manila is 6,909 km (4,293 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 38m.
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