Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates — Country Comparison
Saudi Arabia
United Arab EmiratesSaudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates side by side: Saudi Arabia is the larger country (2,149,690 km² vs 83,600 km², roughly 25.7× the size), while Saudi Arabia has the bigger population (35.3 million vs 11.3 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Riyadh | Abu Dhabi |
| Population | 35,300,280 | 11,294,243 |
| Area | 2,149,690 km² | 83,600 km² |
| Currency | Saudi riyal | United Arab Emirates dirham |
| Language | Arabic | Arabic |
| Dialling code | +966 | +971 |
| Main timezone | UTC+03:00 | UTC+04:00 |
| Drives on the | Right | Right |
| Region | Western Asia | Western Asia |
| Emergency number | 911 | 999 |
Key differences: Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia has about 3.1 times the population of United Arab Emirates.
- Saudi Arabia is about 25.7 times larger by area.
- United Arab Emirates is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: SAR and AED.
- They share Arabic as an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 920 km apart.
- United Arab Emirates is 1 hour ahead of Saudi Arabia (UTC+03:00 vs UTC+04:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Want the full picture for each country? See Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, or compare their population pages: Saudi Arabia · United Arab Emirates.
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Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates — FAQ
Which is bigger, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
Saudi Arabia is bigger by area: 2,149,690 km² vs 83,600 km², roughly 25.7× the size of United Arab Emirates.
Is Saudi Arabia bigger than United Arab Emirates?
Yes — Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 km², compared to 83,600 km² for United Arab Emirates.
Which has more people, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
Saudi Arabia has the larger population: 35,300,280 (35.3 million) vs 11,294,243 (11.3 million).
How does the size of Saudi Arabia compare to United Arab Emirates?
Saudi Arabia (2,149,690 km²) is about 25.7× larger than United Arab Emirates (83,600 km²).
Do Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates use the same currency?
No — Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi riyal and United Arab Emirates uses the United Arab Emirates dirham.
Are Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Asia.
What is the time difference between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates is 1 hour ahead of Saudi Arabia (UTC+03:00 vs UTC+04:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Do Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates share an official language?
Yes — both share Arabic as an official language.
Do Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates share a border?
Yes — Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates is more densely populated at roughly 135 people per km², compared to 16 for Saudi Arabia.
How far is Saudi Arabia from United Arab Emirates?
The distance between the geographic centres of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates is roughly 920 km (570 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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