Convert dunam to square meter in seconds
1 dunam x 1,000 = 1,000 m²
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Picture this: you're evaluating a 3-dunam olive grove in Palestine, but your irrigation plans require metric measurements. That's where understanding dunam-to-square-meter conversions becomes crucial. This ancient unit still dominates land transactions across Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and parts of Turkey – but how does it translate to modern metrics?
Unit definitions
What is a dunam (dunam)?
- Description: Primary land measurement unit in Middle Eastern countries
- Symbol: No official symbol – often written as "dunam" or "dönüm"
- Common uses: Real estate, agricultural land, property taxes
- Definition: Modern metric dunam = 1,000 square meters (since 1920s)
What is a square meter (m²)?
- Description: SI unit for area measurement
- Symbol: m²
- Common uses: Global construction, interior design, land surveys
- Definition: Area of square with 1-meter sides (1m × 1m)
Conversion formula
The math couldn't be simpler:
Dunams to m²:
Number of dunams × 1,000 = Square meters
M² to dunams:
Square meters ÷ 1,000 = Dunams
Example calculations
- Vineyard purchase:
7.5 dunams × 1,000 = 7,500 m²
(Equivalent to 1.85 acres – perfect for boutique wine production) - Construction project:
4,200 m² ÷ 1,000 = 4.2 dunams
(Standard plot size for midrise apartment complexes in Tel Aviv)
Conversion tables
Dunam to square meters
| Dunam | Square Meters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 |
| 2 | 2,000 |
| 3 | 3,000 |
| 4 | 4,000 |
| 5 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 10,000 |
| 25 | 25,000 |
| 50 | 50,000 |
| 100 | 100,000 |
Square meters to dunam
| Square Meters | Dunam |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 1 |
| 2,500 | 2.5 |
| 5,000 | 5 |
| 7,500 | 7.5 |
| 10,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 | 25 |
| 50,000 | 50 |
| 100,000 | 100 |
Historical background
The dunam's story begins in the Ottoman Empire. Originally called 'dönüm," it represented the area a team of oxen could plow in a day – about 40 standard paces squared. When the metric system rolled out in 1923, Turkey redefined it as exactly 1,000 m². Neighboring countries followed suit, though some rural areas clung to older definitions until the 1970s.
Interesting facts?
- Biblical connection: Some scholars link the dunam to ancient Hebrew land measures mentioned in Talmudic texts
- Urban planning: Tel Aviv's famous Bauhaus district was plotted using dunam measurements
- Taxation trick: During Ottoman rule, landowners would sometimes use smaller dunam definitions to reduce tax burdens
- Space oddity: 1 dunam equals 0.1 hectares – making hectare conversions 10x easier
- Legal precision: Jordanian land deeds specify dunams to three decimal places (e.g., 12.345 dunams)
FAQ
No – while modern Middle Eastern countries use 1 dunam = 1,000 m², older Ottoman versions sometimes equaled ~919 m². Always confirm regional standards.
Cultural tradition – many Middle Eastern land records and property deals still use dunams despite metric system adoption.
About 0.7 soccer fields (5 dunams = 5,000 m² vs FIFA field size of 7,140 m²). Useful for visualizing land plots!
Yes – 1 dunam equals approximately 0.2471 acres. Use our dunam-to-acre calculator for quick results.
Yes – Turkey officially uses the metric dunam (1,000 m²), but some rural areas still reference the older Ottoman dunam (~919 m²).