Quick facts
Abu Dhabi overview
Abu Dhabi (orange) and the other large cities of United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi lies in United Arab Emirates at 24.45°N, 54.4°E, about 6 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Dubai (UTC+4); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is smaller than Dubai (3,790,000) and larger than Sharjah (1,800,000). The largest city in United Arab Emirates is Dubai with 3,790,000 people.
The nearest large city is Zayed City, about 113 km away, followed by Dubai (115 km).
United Arab Emirates as a whole has a live population of 11,632,947 (+1.7% a year) and ranks #85 of 238 countries — see the United Arab Emirates population page for the full statistics and the United Arab Emirates atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Abu Dhabi
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Zayed City Abu Dhabi | 113 km | 63,482 |
| Dubai Dubai | 115 km | 3,790,000 |
| Al Ain City Abu Dhabi | 141 km | 846,747 |
| Sharjah Sharjah | 142 km | 1,800,000 |
| Ajman Ajman | 152 km | 490,035 |
| Umm Al Quwain City Umm Al Quwain | 170 km | 59,098 |
| Ar Ruways Abu Dhabi | 173 km | 25,000 |
| Ḩattā Dubai | 179 km | 15,324 |
Largest cities in United Arab Emirates
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | Dubai | 3,790,000 |
| 2 | Abu DhabiCapital | Abu Dhabi | 1,807,000 |
| 3 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 1,800,000 |
| 4 | Al Ain City | Abu Dhabi | 846,747 |
| 5 | Ajman | Ajman | 490,035 |
| 6 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 351,943 |
| 7 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 118,933 |
| 8 | Zayed City | Abu Dhabi | 63,482 |
| 9 | Umm Al Quwain City | Umm Al Quwain | 59,098 |
| 10 | Khawr Fakkān | Sharjah | 40,677 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has about 1,807,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Abu Dhabi the capital of United Arab Emirates?
Yes — Abu Dhabi is the national capital of United Arab Emirates.
How big is Abu Dhabi compared with the rest of United Arab Emirates?
Its 1,807,000 residents are 15.5% of the 11,632,947 people living in United Arab Emirates today. Dubai is larger with 3,790,000 people.
Where is Abu Dhabi?
In United Arab Emirates, at latitude 24.45 and longitude 54.4, 6 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Zayed City (113 km), Dubai (115 km), Al Ain City (141 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Abu Dhabi Population 2026 — United Arab Emirates. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/">Abu Dhabi Population 2026 — United Arab Emirates</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.