Dubai
4,114 km²
New York
783 km²
UAE
USA
Area Comparison
Dubai is 5.3x larger than New York
Population Comparison
Dubai has 2.5x fewer people than New York
In terms of area, Dubai is 5.3x the size of New York. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while New York covers 783 km² (302 mi²) — a difference of 3,331 km². You could fit New York inside Dubai approximately 5 times.
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, New York at 783 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Berlin.
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. New York works out to about 110,000 American football fields, 13 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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.
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive with its respective county. It is the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the United States by both population and urban area.
Nicknamed "New York City", New York has an area of 783 km² and is home to 8.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1624. Visitors come for Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and much more. Getting around is easy with the NYC Subway.
New York City sits on one of the world's largest natural harbors, which shaped its rise as America's commercial gateway.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. New York, with 10,651 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. New York is dramatically more crowded, with 13.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Dubai in Asia versus New York 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 New York experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Dubai stays around 19°C while New York drops to 1°C. When it's noon in Dubai, it's 3:00 AM in New York — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
New York fits inside Dubai ~5 times
Density Gap
New York is 13.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
New York is ~209 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).
New York covers 783 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hamburg (755 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), Singapore (733 km²), or Santiago (838 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to New York is 11,008 km (6,840 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 27m.
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