Mercator
Conformal, cylindrical. Meridians and parallels form a rectangular grid, and the spacing between parallels grows toward the poles, so polar regions are hugely enlarged.
Asia · ARE · Country profile
United Arab Emirates: true size, area and map scale
Explore the country's geographic outline, see it in different projections and compare it with a familiar scale.
Simplified outline · Natural Earth71,024 km²
- Total surface area
- 71,024 km² 2024 edition
- Population
- 11,513,149 2025 data
- Population density
- 162.1 per km² Population ÷ land area
- Land area
- 71,020 km² 2023 data
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi Asia
- Country code
- ARE ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 / UN M49
Explore the shape
Country shape under different projections
The same country, different ways to show the Earth. Each outline opens a map with this country selected.
Globe (Orthographic)
Neither equal-area nor conformal, perspective azimuthal. It looks like a photograph of the globe from space: only one hemisphere is visible, and areas near the edge of the disk are squeezed hard.
Equal Earth
Equal-area, pseudocylindrical. Parallels are straight lines, the poles are flat lines, and the sides of the map are gently rounded, much like Robinson.
Outlines fit their tiles. They show changes in shape, not areas at a shared scale. The Mercator value estimates area inflation at the country's centre.
Understand the scale
How large is United Arab Emirates?
A familiar reference, a similar area and a different latitude. Both outlines in each preview share the same scale.
United Arab EmiratesOther country
Compare outlines on the map
A familiar reference
United Arab Emirates vs Poland
Area ratio (Poland / United Arab Emirates): about 4.4.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
Similar area
United Arab Emirates vs Ireland
Ireland: 69,825 km². Compare their areas.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
A different latitude
United Arab Emirates vs Greenland
See how location affects the impression of size.
Compare size 1:1The numbers in context
United Arab Emirates: true size, population, and map scale without illusions
The United Arab Emirates covers 71,024 km², ranking 119 out of 200 by area in this dataset. Its scale becomes clearer when placed beside neighbors or a familiar reference country, because a wall map can flatten our intuition. Within Asia, that places it 33 out of 47.
The United Arab Emirates covers about 23% of the area of Poland. This comparison is deliberately simple: Poland works as an easy reference point, and then it makes sense to move toward a similarly sized country. By area, the closest match is Ireland.
More about area, population and location
The population is approximately 11,513,149 people, with an average density of 162.1/km². The United Arab Emirates ranks 85 out of 197 by population and 59 out of 197 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.
Within its continent, the United Arab Emirates represents about 0.22% of the area and about 0.24% of the population covered by this dataset. Its continental population rank is 27 out of 47, so area alone does not tell the full story.
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why the United Arab Emirates is best read through several lenses: raw numbers, an equal-scale outline, a comparison with Poland, and a matchup with Ireland. Then the map stops being a picture and starts becoming a tool for discovery.
If you want to remember the scale quickly, compare the United Arab Emirates with a country of similar area and a country of similar population. By population, the Dominican Republic is a useful next clue.
#119AreaArea rank among 200 countries and territories with a verified area.
#33ContinentThe United Arab Emirates covers about 0.22% of the area in Asia.
#85PopulationAbout 11,513,149 people; continental rank 27 of 47.
162.1/km²DensityAverage people per square kilometer; density rank: #59 of 197.IrelandClosest scaleThe most natural same-area outline comparison.The numeric values are used as comparative references for learning scale. Rankings include only countries and territories with a verified value in the selected sources.
Test your intuition
From map to challenge
Questions and sources
Frequently asked questions about size and location
What is the actual area of the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates covers 71,024 km². In this dataset, that ranks 119 out of 200 by area, and 33 out of 47 within its continent. The United Arab Emirates covers about 23% of the area of Poland.
How many people live in the United Arab Emirates, and how dense is it?
The population is approximately 11,513,149 people, with an average density of 162.1/km². The United Arab Emirates ranks 85 out of 197 by population and 59 out of 197 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.
What should I compare the United Arab Emirates with to understand its scale?
Two comparisons work especially well: United Arab Emirates vs Poland as a familiar reference point, and United Arab Emirates vs Ireland because their areas are very close. For population, the Dominican Republic is another useful comparison.
Do world maps show the United Arab Emirates at the right scale?
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why a country's position on the map can mislead, while same-scale outline comparison usually gives a better intuition than a classic atlas.
Why can the United Arab Emirates look different in different map projections?
Every projection moves a globe onto a flat surface and must trade something away: shape, area, direction, or distance. On this page, you can compare the impression created by Mercator, orthographic, and equal-area views.
How should I use this page to remember the size of the United Arab Emirates?
Start with the numbers, open a 1vs1 comparison with a similar country, and then try the size-illusion quiz. That sequence combines facts, visuals, and play, making the scale easier to remember.
Take a closer look at the data
Each value keeps its own reference year or source edition. Boundaries are simplified and are not suitable for geodetic measurements.
Keep exploring
Choose another perspective
Geometry: Natural Earth / world-atlas, public domain. Outlines simplified and transformed into map projections. Sources, licences and data coverage.