Dubai
4,114 km²
Minneapolis
149 km²
UAE
United States
Area Comparison
Dubai is 27.6x larger than Minneapolis
Population Comparison
Dubai has 7.7x more people than Minneapolis
Dubai is significantly larger, covering 27.6 times the area of Minneapolis. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Minneapolis covers 149 km² (58 mi²) — a difference of 3,965 km². You could fit Minneapolis inside Dubai approximately 27 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Minneapolis at 149 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Washington D.C..
In more relatable units, Dubai's 4,114 km² is about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris. Minneapolis, by comparison, equals about 21,000 American football fields, 74 times the area of Monaco, or 44 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.
Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents.
Also known as "Twin Cities", Minneapolis has an area of 149 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. The city dates back to 1850. Visitors come for Mall of America, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls, and much more.
Minneapolis straddles both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, Minnesota's state capital.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Minneapolis, with 2,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Minneapolis is dramatically more crowded, with 3.6x the population density.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Minneapolis experiences hot-summer humid continental climate conditions.
Size Ratio
Minneapolis fits inside Dubai ~27 times
Density Gap
Minneapolis is 3.6x more densely populated
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).
Minneapolis covers 149 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Miami (143 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Stockholm (188 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Minneapolis is 11,584 km (7,198 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 8m.
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