Dubai is known as a metropolis of superlatives. Almost everyone has a mental image of its famous skyline, featuring the Burj Khalifa and Palm Island. Even though Dubai is widely known, not everyone can answer the question of where exactly Dubai is located on the world map, whether Dubai is a city or a country, and how long it takes to travel from Germany to Dubai. Once you’ve read this guide, you’ll be well-informed.
Where is Dubai located on the world map?
On a world map, Dubai is just a tiny dot, and you have to search for quite a while on a globe if you don’t have any clues about its location.
Good landmarks to help you easily find Dubai on a world map:
- Saudi Arabia
- Iraq
- Iran
- Oman
- Pakistan
- India
Dubai is located on the Arabian Peninsula. The emirate is situated between the neighboring emirates of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The exclave of Hatta is located to the east of Dubai in the mountainous region and borders Oman and Ras al-Khaimah.
Where is Dubai located—on which continent?
When it comes to the question “Where is Dubai?”, even the continent is a mystery. In fact, this question cannot be answered in a single sentence. Here, we distinguish between geographical and geological classifications. Geographically speaking, Dubai is part of Asia. From a geological perspective, however, Dubai is classified as part of Africa.
Geologists classify Dubai as part of the African Plate. Technically, Dubai lies on the Arabian Plate. However, this is a continental mass that broke away from Africa and now borders the African Plate. This geological connection is the reason why Dubai is sometimes considered part of Asia and sometimes part of Africa, depending on one’s perspective.
The Arabian Plate borders the African Plate to the west and is thus part of the East African Rift System. In the Red Sea Rift, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Arabian Plate is slowly moving away from the African Plate.
Where is Dubai—in which country?
Not everyone can come up with a clear answer right away. Is Dubai a city or a country in its own right? Dubai City is a city. However, Dubai is not a country, but an emirate. The emirate is part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven emirates:
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Ajman
- Umm Al-Quwain
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Fujairah
The United Arab Emirates is located at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Its exact coordinates are between 22°50 and 26° north latitude and 51° and 56°25 east longitude.
This means that Dubai is located at roughly the same latitude as:
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Miami, Florida
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Taipei, Taiwan
Dubai shares its longitude with:
- Viktoria in the Seychelles
- Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates
- Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia
- Perm, Russia
With an area of approximately 83,600 square kilometers, the United Arab Emirates is about the same size as Portugal. The country has more than 700 kilometers of coastline. Of this, 600 kilometers run along the Persian Gulf and 100 kilometers along the Gulf of Oman. To the west, south, and southeast, the UAE borders Saudi Arabia. Oman is its immediate neighbor to the southeast and northeast.
The United Arab Emirates is a desert country and is almost entirely covered by an arid sandy desert. The foothills of the Great Arabian Desert (Rub’ al-Khali) cover nearly two-thirds of the country’s area. The sand dunes can shift hundreds of kilometers. To slow the desert’s advance, large-scale afforestation projects have been undertaken.
There are several desert oases. Al-Ain/Buraimi, located in the border region with Oman, and the Liwa Oasis to the south are among the most significant. The northern coast of the United Arab Emirates is rich in islands. The water depth is very shallow—only 25 meters at a distance of 100 kilometers from the coast. This poses a challenge for shipping. Sandbars, shoals, and coral reefs obstruct the passage of ships.
The Hajar Mountains rise in the northeast of the country. Jabal Adhan, at 1,127 meters, and Jabal Yibir, at 1,527 meters, are two of the mountain range’s highest peaks located within the UAE. Large quantities of groundwater are extracted from the mountains. The landscape is characterized by riverbeds known as wadis.
Which countries border Dubai?
Dubai is not an independent country and therefore has no direct national borders. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates. Consequently, the borders of the United Arab Emirates are relevant as Dubai’s national borders.
Dubai and the United Arab Emirates border:
- Saudi Arabia: The shared border runs along the southern and western borders of the United Arab Emirates.
- Oman: The shared border lies in the east and northeast of the United Arab Emirates. The Musandam exclave is a unique feature. The peninsula borders the United Arab Emirates to the north.
- Qatar: The United Arab Emirates shares a maritime border with Qatar in the Persian Gulf.
- Iran: The Gulf of Oman borders Iran to the northeast.
On which sea is Dubai located?
Anyone who asks, “Where is Dubai on the map?” will also want to know if it has a maritime border. Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf. In Germany, it is also often referred to as the Arabian Gulf. This inland sea stretches between the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian Highlands. The Persian Gulf is approximately 1,000 kilometers long and up to 300 kilometers wide. At its narrowest points, it measures up to 200 kilometers across. The body of water covers an area of 235,000 square kilometers.
With a maximum depth of 110 meters, the Persian Gulf is considered a shallow body of water. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers merge to form the Shatt al-Arab. The river flows into the Persian Gulf. Because a great deal of water evaporates, the salinity of the Persian Gulf is above average at approximately four percent.
Dubai’s location can also be determined based on the countries bordering the Persian Gulf.
Along the coastline, from north to south, the following countries are located:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman (Musandam Governorate)
Dubai is located in a historically significant region, as the coastal area of the Persian Gulf can be considered the cradle of civilization. It was here that the Persian Empire arose, along with the great civilizations of human history—Babylon, Sumer, and Akkad.
Where exactly is Dubai? – Our Distance Guide
Many of us have a hard time picturing the vast map and locating the Emirate of Dubai on it. So where exactly is Dubai on the map? You’ll have an easier time visualizing it if we mention a few distances.
Dubai is located the specified number of kilometers away from the following cities and countries:
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates – 16 kilometers
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 128 kilometers
- Doha, Qatar – 379 kilometers
- Dammam, Saudi Arabia – 531 kilometers
- Tehran, Iran – 1,214 kilometers
- Yerevan, Armenia – 1,934 kilometers
- Damascus, Syria – 2,053 kilometers
- Ankara, Turkey – 2,647 kilometers
- Malé, Maldives – 3,040 kilometers
- Berlin, Germany – 4,625 kilometers
Here are a few more notable distances:
- Equator – 2,796 kilometers
- North Pole – 7,206 kilometers
- South Pole – 12,798 kilometers
Dubai is the farthest from the following destinations:
- Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia – 17,319 kilometers
- Easter Island, Chile – 18,482 kilometers
- Gambier Islands, French Polynesia – 18,963 kilometers
- Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands – 19,487 kilometers
Where is the Emirate of Dubai located?
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The emirate is located on the Arabian Peninsula and directly on the Persian Gulf. Dubai covers an area of 3,885 square kilometers and, with a population of about four million, is the most populous of the emirates. About 90 percent of all residents of the Emirate of Dubai live in Dubai City.
Dubai was founded at the mouth of Dubai Creek. At that time, Dubai did not yet appear on any map and existed only as a small fishing village. In 1853, a treaty was signed between Dubai and Great Britain. Dubai became part of the Trucial States, the predecessor of the United Arab Emirates.
The port of Dubai became known as an important trading center in the 20th century. In the mid-20th century, the oil industry began to develop. In 1971, the Trucial States gained independence from Great Britain. Under the leadership of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates was formed at that time. As a result, maps had to be redrawn, and the Emirate of Dubai became part of the UAE Federation.
Where exactly is Dubai City located?
Dubai City is located on the northern edge of the Emirate of Dubai. A bay of the Persian Gulf divides the city into two halves. The Khor Dubai stretches 14 kilometers in length and reaches a width of up to 1.3 kilometers. In some places, however, the bay is only 100 meters wide. In the past, people did not refer to “Dubai City.” Back then, the towns of Deira and Bur Dubai were located on either side of the bay. Today, pedestrians can cross from one side of the city to the other using passenger ferries called “abras.”
You can now answer the question, “Where is Dubai on the map?” The city is far more polarizing, with its impressive structures and the man-made Palm Island, which astronauts can even spot from space. Nowhere else in the world are there more skyscrapers taller than 300 meters than in Dubai. The Burj Khalifa has long since become a landmark of Dubai.
Dubai City is the vibrant heart of the emirate. Economic and cultural life is concentrated here. Dubai is visited by millions of tourists every year and offers numerous foreign investors a home and a secure livelihood.
How long has Dubai been around?
Dubai appears to be a modern metropolis. It’s hard to believe that the city’s roots stretch back many millennia. Archaeologists have uncovered artifacts dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. People were already living in what is now Dubai during the Bronze Age. In more recent history, England played a major role. Dubai was particularly shaped by the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. Great Britain controlled trade and signed treaties with the neighboring emirates. At the end of the 19th century, pearl diving opened up a new, lucrative industry. When Dubai was declared a free port in 1904, merchants from Persia began docking there, and economic activity continued to expand.
In the 20th century, Dubai became an important trading center, and oil drilling began. When Great Britain withdrew from the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1971. Dubai’s urban development was spearheaded by Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The past few decades have been marked by a construction boom. The striking luxury hotel Burj Al Arab was completed in 1999. The Burj Khalifa opened in 2010. Today, Dubai sets the standard in architecture and quality of life.
What famous landmarks are there in Dubai?
As the city of skyscrapers, Dubai is impossible to miss. Some of its striking buildings are visible from a great distance. This makes it easy for vacationers to spot Dubai’s location even from the airplane.
- Burj Khalifa: The Burj Khalifa has become a landmark of Dubai. The world’s tallest building stands at 828 meters. The skyscraper houses hotels, offices, restaurants, and luxury residences. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the city and the surrounding area from three observation decks.
- Burj Al Arab: The Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 as one of the first spectacular structures in Dubai. Standing 321 meters tall, this luxury hotel is one of the tallest hotels in the world. It features 202 luxury suites and nine restaurants. Guests can expect 7-star luxury, even though it is actually a 5-star hotel. One night’s stay costs about 1,700 euros.
- The Palm Jumeirah: In search of new land for development, Dubai began constructing artificial islands off the coast of the Persian Gulf in 2001. The Palm Jumeirah is shaped like a palm tree. Luxury hotels, beaches, and restaurants have been built along the trunk and the individual fronds. The palm-shaped island is visible from afar and has become a symbol of Dubai.
- Dubai Fountain: The Dubai Fountain has become yet another attraction in front of the Burj Khalifa. Every day at 6 p.m., the massive fountain puts on a spectacular show of light, water, and music. The spectacle is particularly impressive after dark and when viewed from the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
We Germans like to travel in the summer. That’s when the temperatures are most pleasant, and we can book a beach vacation without worrying about getting cold. While this may be true for most destinations in Europe, it’s not the only option for Dubai. Even when traveling to Dubai, the best time to go depends on the weather.
Dubai has a desert climate. It is dry and hot all year round. The sun shines for many hours a day, and rain in the summer is a rarity. Nevertheless, the summer months in Dubai are the off-season, and the beaches remain mostly empty during the day. Between June and September, it is very hot in Dubai. Temperatures can exceed 40 degrees, and people prefer to stay in air-conditioned rooms. Since the Persian Gulf also warms up to 33 degrees, a refreshing swim in the sea is not to be expected in the height of summer.
The best time to visit Dubai is from November through March. You can’t really call it winter in Dubai. During the day, temperatures range from 24 to 30 degrees Celsius, making for perfect summer weather. The sun shines for about eight hours a day, and water temperatures are around 25 degrees. Winter in Germany means perfect swimming weather in Dubai. Traveling to Dubai in the winter is very popular, as it offers a chance to escape the cold weather in Germany. Dubai is also an ideal destination in October and April. It’s not yet as hot as in the height of summer, and outdoor activities are still possible. Desert tours are also still an option.
Dubai isn’t a top travel destination in the height of summer. Those who aren’t put off by the high temperatures can take advantage of affordable flights and local lodging rates. Many restaurants and shops also lower their prices. If you focus on well-air-conditioned indoor activities during the day and spend your mornings or evenings at the beach or exploring the city, you can still enjoy a varied vacation in Dubai even in the height of summer.
How do you get to Dubai?
The fastest way to travel between Germany and Dubai is by plane. Dubai has two airports. The new Al Maktoum World Central International Airport is located about 40 kilometers southwest of Dubai City. Qatar Airways flies to this airport. You should plan for a layover in Doha. Condor also flies to Dubai during certain seasons. Transportation into the city is provided by taxis and hotel shuttles.
Dubai International Airport is centrally located and is situated not far from the Deira neighborhood. Major airlines such as Lufthansa and SWISS operate regular flights to the airport. The airport has excellent transportation connections. Travelers can take the E11 from the airport to Sheikh Zayed Road. There is a metro connection, and numerous taxis are available.
What should you keep in mind when entering the country?
Tourists visiting Dubai do not need to apply for a visa. They will be issued a free visitor visa in the form of a stamp at the airport. The visa is valid for 90 days. It does not authorize the holder to work in Dubai. Those making only a short stopover in Dubai will receive a 96-hour visa, which allows them to stay in the United Arab Emirates. To be granted a tourist visa, travelers must present a passport that is valid for at least another six months. A child’s passport with a photo is accepted. Entry with provisional passports is no longer permitted. A biometric iris scan is performed during passport control upon entry and exit.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.com – clicksbyabrar (Abrar Sharif)
