Menu
Skip to content 
In particular, it is possible to learn about the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where famous cities, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, exist. Both have outstanding features such as height in buildings, luxury and the manifestation of wealth. However, most go around Dubai and believe it is larger than Abu Dhabi.
This is not true. Abu Dhabi is the largest Emirate, and it takes the lion’s share of the entire country’s gross domestic product. This article will describe why Dubai looks larger and more developed than Abu Dhabi despite having fewer land areas than Abu Dhabi.
The UAE is made up of seven emirates: The emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah and Umm Al-Quwain. Out of these, Emirates Dubai is the smallest one, covering over 4% of the total land of UAE, while Abu Dhabi is the largest one, with its coverage of almost 87% area of the UAE. Dubai is the second largest Emirate, occupying only approximately 5 percent of the total area.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is very big, it consists of desert and oases as well as more than two hundred islands. This huge one is valuable because it is rich, and to top it up, it has abundant oil.
Even though the area of Dubai is significantly smaller compared to the area of Abu Dhabi, it has more inhabitants and constructions. Many people know it for such, seeing as the Burj Khalifa- the world’s tallest structure and large shopping malls. So, Dubai has understood how to use the land which is vital to anything; the emphasis is made on construction and tourism.
The UAE was formed in 1971, having its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. There was a land division through the previous agreement by the tribes. Big amounts of land belonged to the ruling family; Abu Dhabi was the biggest Emirate of the seven.
Dubai’s ruling family concentrated on trade due to the strategic position of the place as a hub of trade activities. This focus on business, not land, is why Dubai is smaller than Abu Dhabi. Today, it isn’t easy to be certain about the exact ratio of area to circumference of Dubai or Abu-Dhabi. Still, the fact remains that the facts mentioned above show that business without land is bigger than that with land.
Consequently, it has been noted that due to the vast size of the land it possesses throughout, Abu Dhabi has in its oil reservoirs which has assisted in its growth. Even today, a great part of this continent is desert.
Dubai, for instance, possesses very little oil and thus developed tourism and business. This has led to fast construction and growth, hence a perception that Dubai has expanded in size.
The public believes Dubai is relatively bigger because it has many high-rise buildings and complexes. These include tall buildings such as apartments and forts, complexes such as the malls, and human-made activities such as Palm Jumeirah.
Again, Dubai is famous globally and contributes to the notion that it is bigger than Abu Dhabi. It contains many well-known sights and is reported in the media regularly.
Some of the artificial structures that Dubai has developed include the palm Jumeirah, which is an island created through human effort. They have all increased the size of Dubai’s coastline and enhanced the perception of Dubai as a big, luxurious city.
The Land of Abu Dhabi has also done it, but smaller in size in a different sight. It has paid more attention to maintaining its natural surroundings and constructing structures that are eco-friendly.
Dubai has developed by erecting big structures Anywhere has developed by constructing high buildings. This vertical growth enables one to cram many people and businesses in a small space.
Abu Dhabi, with the largest area of the Emirate, has expanded more in extension or in the increase in area rather than height. It encompasses expansive residential compounds, governmental institutions, and commercial and industrial sections that are almost disconnected.
Dubai houses many people in a relatively small region thus is busy and large.
Abu Dhabi’s population is comparatively more dispersed, and a major part of it is still a barren desert. This makes it feel less congested as compared to Dubai.
Dubai has a rich cultural mix, and it is active, with an emphasis on the great and large part of its image and brand.
By this, we see that Abu Dhabi is more conventional and oriented toward cultural conservation. It is also the political capital of UAE which makes the atmosphere different from Dubai.
Dubai has concentrated on trade and tourism, forming a famous city. This makes it appear larger than it is, which, in my opinion, was not a good choice.
Due to its oil resources, Abu Dhabi has invested in many sectors, for instance, energy and culture. Although all these investments are crucial and help AbuDhabi to be more visible on the world map, it is not as much as Dubai.
Abu Dhabi occupies a vast area, most of which are deserts and shorelines. It is dedicated to preserving these natural spaces, which constrains the amount it can construct.
As seen above, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have shown concern in the context of environmental conservation in different manners. Dubai is practicing sustainability by integrating green features into buildings; on the other hand, Abu Dhabi is involved in large-scale initiatives such as a 50-year project known as Masdar City that aims at using renewable power.
Overall, one gets the impression that Dubai is much larger and more advanced in its development. However, it occupies less territory than Abu Dhabi. Here, we have evidence of how the opinion that Dubai is bigger comes from its tall buildings, number of people, and popularity. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi has a huge land area, which is mainly arid and has not developed much. For this reason, people perceive them differently because of how they plan their cities, the use of their land and their emphasis on culture and economy.
Is Dubai bigger than Abu Dhabi?
No, Abu Dhabi is much larger in land area than Dubai.
Why do people think Dubai is bigger than Abu Dhabi?
People think this because of Dubai’s tall buildings, busy streets, and global fame.
How has Dubai expanded its land area?
Dubai has built new land with projects like Palm Jumeirah.
What is the main economic difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Dubai has a business and tourists-oriented economy, whereas Abu Dhabi is based on oil and investment in other sectors.
Which Emirate has more natural landscapes, Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has more natural landscapes, including deserts and coastlines.
