Dubai
4,114 km²
Seoul
605 km²
UAE
South Korea
Area Comparison
Dubai is 6.8x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Dubai has 2.9x fewer people than Seoul
In terms of area, Dubai is 6.8x the size of Seoul. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 3,509 km². You could fit Seoul 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, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
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. For Seoul, that's 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.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 20.0x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Dubai stays around 19°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 7:00 AM in Dubai — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Dubai ~6 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 20.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,851 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).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Seoul is 6,783 km (4,215 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 29m.
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