How to Calculate the Surface Area in Dubai (2026): Formulas, m² to sq ft and Price per sq ft
- Published 1 Jun 2025
- Updated 10 November 2026
- 10 min read
- Data verified on 10 Nov 2026
In short
To calculate surface area in Dubai, measure in metres, multiply length × width for each rectangular part (split irregular shapes into simple ones), add them up, then multiply by 10.7639 to convert m² into sq ft. Official DLD maps record area in m². Divide the price by the area to get the price per sq ft: the median for JVC apartments was AED 1,450 in 2026, against AED 1,639 for all Dubai sales in October.
Dubai Land Department, map service, 3 Nov 2026 · Law No. 13 of 2008, Art. 12 · DXBinteract / DLD records, Jan–Oct 2026
10.7639sq ft per m²
Exact basis: 1 foot = 0.3048 metres
Source: International definition of the foot
AED 250DLD unit map
Fee for an apartment or villa map issued by the DLD
Source: Dubai Land Department, 3 Nov 2026
AED 1,639per sq ft
Median price of all registered sales in Dubai, October 2026
Source: DXBinteract / DLD, Oct 2026
Measure in metres, convert once: 1 m² equals 10.7639 sq ft.Photo: © VALORISIMO
In this article · 9 sections
How do you convert square metres to square feet in Dubai?
Surface area is the number that turns a price into a price per square foot, and in Dubai it drives valuations, comparisons and even compensation if a new unit is delivered smaller than promised. Calculating it correctly takes a tape measure, a formula and one conversion.
Two units coexist in Dubai. Official documents, plans and plot maps are expressed in square metres (m²), while brochures, portals and price indices mostly use square feet (sq ft). Mixing them up is the most common error buyers make when comparing listings.
The conversion you need
One foot is exactly 0.3048 metres, so one square foot is 0.09290304 m², and one square metre is about 10.7639 sq ft. To go from m² to sq ft, multiply by 10.7639; to go back, divide by 10.7639 or multiply by 0.0929.
| Area in m² | Area in sq ft | Typical unit |
|---|---|---|
| 35 m² | 377 sq ft | Compact studio |
| 50 m² | 538 sq ft | Large studio |
| 75 m² | 807 sq ft | One-bedroom apartment |
| 120 m² | 1,292 sq ft | Two-bedroom apartment |
| 250 m² | 2,691 sq ft | Townhouse or small villa |
| 500 m² | 5,382 sq ft | Villa plot |
Source: Valorisimo calculation using 1 m² = 10.7639 sq ft (1 ft = 0.3048 m). Unit types are indicative.
How do you calculate the surface area of a plot or room?
Most rooms, apartments and plots can be measured with three formulas. Measure in metres, calculate in m², convert at the end.
Rectangles and squares
Area = length × width. A plot 20 m long and 15 m wide covers 20 × 15 = 300 m², or about 3,229 sq ft. A bedroom of 4.2 m by 3.6 m covers 15.1 m², about 163 sq ft.
Triangles
Area = base × height ÷ 2. A triangular corner of a plot with a 12 m base and an 8 m perpendicular height covers 12 × 8 ÷ 2 = 48 m².
Trapezoids
Area = (side a + side b) ÷ 2 × height, where a and b are the two parallel sides. A plot whose front is 18 m, back is 22 m and depth is 30 m covers (18 + 22) ÷ 2 × 30 = 600 m².
Irregular shapes
Split the shape into rectangles, triangles and trapezoids, calculate each, then add them up. An L-shaped plot made of a 10 m × 5 m rectangle and a 7 m × 6 m rectangle covers 50 + 42 = 92 m², about 990 sq ft. For curved or very irregular plots, surveyors use coordinates and CAD software rather than tape measures.
| Shape | Formula | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | length × width | 20 m × 15 m | 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) |
| Triangle | base × height ÷ 2 | 12 m × 8 m ÷ 2 | 48 m² (517 sq ft) |
| Trapezoid | (a + b) ÷ 2 × height | (18 + 22) ÷ 2 × 30 m | 600 m² (6,458 sq ft) |
| L-shape | sum of two rectangles | (10 × 5) + (7 × 6) | 92 m² (990 sq ft) |
Source: Valorisimo worked examples; conversions at 1 m² = 10.7639 sq ft.
Which area is quoted for an apartment or villa in Dubai?
For apartments and villas, the hard part is not the formula but knowing which area a figure refers to.
A listing may quote an internal area, a total area including balconies and terraces, or for a villa a built-up area alongside a separate plot area. Two units advertised at the same size can therefore offer very different living space.
The areas you will meet
- Internal (net) area: the usable floor space inside the walls; what you would measure room by room with a laser meter.
- Built-up or total unit area: the unit as defined in the sale contract and registered plans, which may include walls, balconies or terraces depending on the project.
- Plot area: for villas and land, the surface of the land itself, shown on the plot map.
- Common areas: lobbies, corridors and amenities shared by owners; the DLD issues separate maps of shared areas and their facilities.
Before comparing prices, ask the seller or developer which definition the quoted size uses, and request the unit map. For an apartment, measuring the main rooms yourself and adding them up gives a quick check of the internal area.
Where is the official area of a Dubai property recorded?
In Dubai, the reference for an owned unit is the Dubai Land Department’s register and the maps it issues, not the brochure.
Law No. 7 of 2006 makes the DLD the only entity authorised to register real property rights in Dubai, and gives it the task of determining areas to be surveyed, certifying maps, prescribing surveying rules and issuing maps of real property units. When a sale is registered, the DLD issues an electronic title deed together with an electronic map of the unit or plot.
| DLD map type | Fee | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment map | AED 250 | Unit layout and registered area of an apartment |
| Villa map | AED 250 | Villa and its land |
| Land map unified with Dubai Municipality | AED 225 | Plots within Dubai Municipality’s jurisdiction |
| Land plot map outside Dubai Municipality | AED 100 | Plots under other authorities |
| Common spaces map | AED 3,000 | Shared areas and facilities of a building |
Source: Dubai Land Department, ‘Request for a map’ service, updated 3 Nov 2026. Plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees per drawing; expected completion 12 minutes, or within 24 hours for maps shared with Dubai Municipality.
Owners can request a map on the DLD website, the Dubai REST app, the Oqood portal or at a trustee service centre. For a disputed or unusual measurement, the DLD publishes a list of certified survey companies.
When you buy a resale unit, ask the seller for the title deed and map before signing the memorandum of understanding, and check the deed with the DLD’s free title deed verification service on its website or the Dubai REST app, which gives an immediate answer. The area on that map, not the one in the advert, is the figure to use in your price-per-square-foot calculation.
What happens if an off-plan unit is smaller than contracted?
Off-plan buyers have a specific legal protection on area, written into the law on the interim property register.
Article 12 of Law No. 13 of 2008 states that the area of a sold unit is deemed correct. If the area increases after delivery, the developer may not claim a higher price. If it decreases, the developer must compensate the buyer, unless the decrease is inconsequential.
How to use this at handover
- Note the area in your sale and purchase agreement and on your Oqood certificate, in m².
- At handover, compare it with the area on the DLD title deed and map.
- Check the sale agreement for any clause defining an acceptable variation, since the law does not set a percentage.
- If the delivered area is smaller by more than an inconsequential amount, raise it in writing with the developer before signing the handover documents.
Our guide on how to read a DLD Oqood certificate shows where the area appears on the provisional registration.
How do you calculate price per square foot in Dubai?
Once you know the area, price per square foot is a simple division, and the most useful number for comparing listings.
Price per sq ft = price ÷ area in sq ft. A 75 m² one-bedroom priced at AED 1,170,000 measures 807 sq ft, so it costs about AED 1,450 per sq ft. Price per m² = price ÷ area in m², here AED 15,600 per m². To move between the two, multiply the per-sq-ft figure by 10.7639.
| Community (apartments) | Median price per sq ft | Same in AED per m² | Median price | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle | AED 1,450 | about AED 15,600 | AED 1,000,000 | 8,261 |
| Dubai Marina | AED 1,970 | about AED 21,200 | AED 1,823,000 | 1,710 |
| Business Bay | AED 2,370 | about AED 25,500 | AED 2,000,000 | 4,158 |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 2,820 | about AED 30,350 | AED 3,100,000 | 1,807 |
Source: DXBinteract analysis of DLD-registered apartment sales, January to October 2026, retrieved 10 Nov 2026. Per-m² values are Valorisimo conversions at 10.7639.
Across all property types, the median price of registered sales in Dubai was AED 1,639 per sq ft in October 2026, on 11,937 transactions. For per-community figures, see our apartment prices in Dubai page, and for the capital our Abu Dhabi price per sqm guide, which reports prices in square metres.
A worked comparison
Take two one-bedroom listings in Jumeirah Village Circle. Unit A is advertised at AED 1,050,000 for 750 sq ft; unit B at AED 1,200,000 for 900 sq ft. Unit A costs AED 1,400 per sq ft and unit B about AED 1,333, so B is cheaper per square foot despite the higher price. Now suppose B’s 900 sq ft includes a 150 sq ft terrace while A’s figure is internal only: on internal space, B costs AED 1,600 per sq ft. Same formula, opposite conclusion, which is why the definition of area matters as much as the arithmetic.
Why a median per sq ft can mislead
Smaller units usually sell for more per square foot than larger ones in the same building, and new launches often price above resales. Compare like with like: same building or community, similar size, same definition of area.
How can you avoid mistakes when measuring property in Dubai?
Precision matters most when money changes hands. A few habits avoid costly mistakes.
- Work in m², report in sq ft: calculate with metres and convert once at the end to avoid rounding drift.
- Use a laser meter: handheld laser distance meters are accurate enough to check room sizes during a viewing.
- Ask for the DLD map: it is the registered reference for the unit or plot.
- Check the definition: internal, total with balconies, built-up or plot area are not interchangeable.
- Use a certified surveyor for land: irregular plots and disputes call for a DLD-certified survey company.
Watch out
Listings in Dubai do not all use the same definition of area, and a unit advertised as larger may simply include a bigger balcony. Before you compare prices per square foot or sign a contract, get the DLD map or the developer's plan and confirm in writing what the quoted area includes.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet are in a square metre?
One square metre equals about 10.7639 square feet, because one foot is exactly 0.3048 metres. Multiply m² by 10.7639 to get sq ft, or multiply sq ft by 0.0929 to get m². A 75 m² apartment is about 807 sq ft.
How do I calculate the area of an irregular plot?
Divide the plot into simple shapes, such as rectangles (length × width), triangles (base × height ÷ 2) and trapezoids, calculate each, then add them. An L-shaped plot of 10 × 5 m and 7 × 6 m covers 92 m². Use a certified surveyor for curved or disputed boundaries.
Does Dubai use square metres or square feet?
Both. Dubai Land Department maps and records use square metres, while property portals, brochures and most price indices quote square feet. Always check which unit and which area definition a figure uses before comparing two properties, and ask for the DLD map of the unit.
What if my off-plan apartment is smaller than in the contract?
Article 12 of Law No. 13 of 2008 says the developer must compensate the buyer if the area decreases, unless the decrease is inconsequential, and cannot raise the price if it increases. Compare your SPA with the DLD title deed and map at handover.
How do I calculate price per square foot?
Divide the price by the area in square feet. A AED 1,170,000 apartment of 807 sq ft costs about AED 1,450 per sq ft, the median for JVC apartments in 2026. Multiply by 10.7639 to get the price per square metre.
Figures are indicative as of the date shown: check them with official sources before any decision.
- For information only; this is not tax, legal or financial advice.
