Dubai
4,114 km²
Tehran
730 km²
UAE
Iran
Area Comparison
Dubai is 5.6x larger than Tehran
Population Comparison
Dubai has 2.7x fewer people than Tehran
Dubai is significantly larger, covering 5.6 times the area of Tehran. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Tehran covers 730 km² (282 mi²) — a difference of 3,384 km². You could fit Tehran 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, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.
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. Tehran, by comparison, equals about 102,000 American football fields, 12 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.
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.
Tehran has an area of 730 km² and is home to 9.1 million people. It was established in 1524. Visitors come for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tehran Metro.
Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Tehran, with 12,507 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Tehran is dramatically more crowded, with 15.5x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Tehran (Iran) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Tehran experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Dubai stays around 19°C while Tehran drops to 3°C.
Size Ratio
Tehran fits inside Dubai ~5 times
Density Gap
Tehran is 15.5x more densely populated
History
Tehran is ~309 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).
Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Tehran is 1,223 km (760 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 56m.
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