Dubai vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Dubai Bigger Than São Paulo?

Dubai is significantly larger, covering 2.7 times the area of São Paulo. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while São Paulo covers 1,521 km² (587 mi²) — a difference of 2,593 km². You could fit São Paulo inside Dubai approximately 2 times.

About Dubai

A global city and business hub in the Middle East. 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 went from a small fishing village to a global metropolis in just 50 years

About São Paulo

Brazil's largest city and financial center. Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. The city dates back to 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan

Population Density

Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is dramatically more crowded, with 10.0x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

Dubai has a hot desert climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. Summers are notably different: Dubai averages 36°C compared to 23°C in São Paulo. When it's noon in Dubai, it's 5:00 AM in São Paulo — a 7-hour time difference.