Quick facts
Dubai overview
Dubai (orange) and the other large cities of United Arab Emirates
Dubai lies in United Arab Emirates at 25.08°N, 55.31°E, about 24 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Dubai (UTC+4); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of United Arab Emirates: the next largest cities are Abu Dhabi (1,807,000), Sharjah (1,800,000), Al Ain City (846,747). Together, the three largest cities hold 63.6% of the national population.
The national capital, Abu Dhabi, is about 115 km away; the nearest large city is Sharjah, 30 km from Dubai.
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 Dubai
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Sharjah | 30 km | 1,800,000 |
| Ajman Ajman | 40 km | 490,035 |
| Umm Al Quwain City Umm Al Quwain | 60 km | 59,098 |
| Ḩattā Dubai | 88 km | 15,324 |
| Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah | 102 km | 351,943 |
| Fujairah Fujairah | 104 km | 118,933 |
| Kalbā Sharjah | 105 km | 37,545 |
| Khawr Fakkān Sharjah | 108 km | 40,677 |
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 Dubai?
Dubai has about 3,790,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Dubai the capital of United Arab Emirates?
No. The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi (1,807,000 people), about 115 km away. Dubai is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Dubai compared with the rest of United Arab Emirates?
Its 3,790,000 residents are 32.6% of the 11,632,947 people living in United Arab Emirates today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Dubai?
In United Arab Emirates, at latitude 25.08 and longitude 55.31, 24 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Sharjah (30 km), Ajman (40 km), Umm Al Quwain City (60 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Dubai Population 2026 — United Arab Emirates. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/dubai/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/dubai/">Dubai 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.