Riyadh
1,798 km²
Dubai
4,114 km²
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Area Comparison
Riyadh is 2.3x smaller than Dubai
Population Comparison
Riyadh has 2.1x more people than Dubai
Dubai is significantly larger, covering 2.3 times the area of Riyadh. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Riyadh covers 1,798 km² (694 mi²) — a difference of 2,316 km². You could fit Riyadh inside Dubai approximately 2 times.
To put Riyadh's size in perspective, its area of 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London. Meanwhile, Dubai at 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island.
In more relatable units, Riyadh's 1,798 km² is about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris. Dubai, by comparison, equals about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.
Riyadh covers 1,798 km² with a population of 7.0 million. The city was established in 1746. Riyadh is known for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, among other attractions.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.
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.
Also known as "City of Gold", Dubai has an area of 4,114 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. It was established in 1833. Visitors come for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Dubai Metro.
Dubai's population reached 4 million in 2025, with 92% of residents being expatriates rather than UAE nationals.
Riyadh has a population density of 3,899 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Dubai, with 809 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Riyadh is dramatically more crowded, with 4.8x the population density.
Size Ratio
Riyadh fits inside Dubai ~2 times
Density Gap
Riyadh is 4.8x more densely populated
Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from Riyadh to Dubai is 865 km (537 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 31m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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