Dubai is situated in the northeast region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It shares borders with Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, as well as the Sultanate of Oman. The entire western coastline of Dubai shares a border with the Persian Gulf.

Dubai lies approximately sixteen meters above sea level and is about 4,000 square km in area. Although it is situated in the middle of the Desert safari in Dubai, the city of Dubai its topography and geography is distinctively different from the southern regions of the United Arab Emirates. Much of the Dubai landscape is a type of dessert sand made of finely crushed corals and shells in contrast to the gravel deserts which cover vast areas towards the south. Due to high iron oxide, the bigger dunes of sand that lie located to the east of Dubai have a reddish tint to their sand.

The relatively flat, sandy desert to the west of Dubai is located at the base of the Hajar Mountains which borders Dubai with Hatta and Oman. These rugged rocky mountains provide an arid landscape to the area with some as soaring higher than 1,000 meters. Even though the Dubai geography doesn't include elements of oasis and rivers, there are a few waterholes and gorges at the foot of these mountains which could become flooded after heavy rains.

The vast expanse of sand dunes to the southern part of Dubai is called "The Empty Quarter" and is referred to as a desert. In accordance to industry experts, Dubai is free of charge from any tsunamis or seismic activity primarily due to the fact that the waters of the Persian Gulf are quite shallow.

A variety of wild grasses are located in the Dubai desert along with date palm trees. The native trees of Dubai include the Neem and date palm, and there are also plenty of imported species like the eucalyptus tree , many of which are mature in many of Dubai's' parks and gardens.

The popular Dubai creek flows from northeast southwest through the city of Dubai. The eastern part of Dubai which is known as the "old part of town" is Deira is bordered by Sharjah another Emirate inside the UAE. Al Maktoum Bridge (or Al Garhoud Bridge), Al Shindagha Tunnel, and Al Shindagha tunnel connect the east and west areas of Dubai.