1 dunam = 0.247 acres. Perfect for agriculture and real estate in the Middle East. Convert your land area now! Try it today!
1 dunam equals 0.247105 acre
This conversion is necessary for farmers in the Mediterranean, where land is often measured in dunams, ensuring accurate agricultural planning and international transactions.
Formula: ac = dunam × 0.247105
The dunam and acre represent two distinct land measurement traditions spanning continents. With 1 dunam equaling approximately 0.247105 acres (or 1 acre equaling about 4.047 dunams), This conversion is basic for international property transactions, agricultural planning, and land surveying. These units reflect the historical development of measurement systems in different regions, making accurate conversion critical for professionals working across Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North American markets.
Land measurement accuracy directly impacts property valuations, agricultural productivity calculations, and legal boundary definitions across continents. With 1 dunam equaling approximately 0.247105 acres, a 1% conversion error on a 1,000 dunam property translates to a 2.47 acre discrepancy—potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. For farmers, real estate developers, and international investors, precision in conversion prevents costly mistakes in crop yield projections, property transactions, and land use planning. Legal documents in Middle Eastern countries often specify measurements in dunams, while North American contracts use acres, making accurate conversion non-negotiable for cross-border transactions.
Farmers and agricultural cooperatives across the Middle East, North Africa, and Mediterranean regions primarily measure land in dunams, while international agricultural markets and export documentation increasingly require acre measurements. Converting between dunams and acres is basic for calculating crop yields, comparing land productivity across regions, determining irrigation requirements, and accessing international agricultural financing. Agricultural extension services must provide conversion guidance for farmers selling to international buyers or participating in cross-border agricultural programs.
Real estate professionals operating in Middle Eastern markets, Mediterranean countries, and North America frequently encounter mixed measurement systems. Properties listed in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey use dunams, while international investors and North American developers prefer acres. Accurate conversion is critical for comparative market analysis, property valuation, financing applications, and international investment portfolios. Appraisers and real estate agents must provide conversions in both units to serve diverse clientele and facilitate cross-border transactions.
| dunams | acres |
|---|---|
| 10 dunam | 2.47105 ac |
| 50 dunam | 12.35525 ac |
| 100 dunam | 24.7105 ac |
| 500 dunam | 123.5525 ac |
| 1000 dunam | 247.105 ac |
Formula: ac = dunam × conversion factor
The dunam originated in the Ottoman Empire as a standardized land measurement, derived from the Arabic word 'dunnum' meaning 'small hill' or 'mound.' The Ottoman system established the dunam at approximately 1,000 square meters (varying slightly by region). When the Ottoman Empire fragmented following World War I, the dunam persisted as the primary land measurement unit in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and Turkey. The acre, by contrast, developed in medieval England as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day (43,560 square feet or approximately 4,047 square meters). When British colonial administration extended across North America and parts of the Middle East during the 19th-20th centuries, the acre became the standard in English-speaking regions. Today, the dunam remains predominant across Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, while acres dominate North America, Australia, and parts of Africa—creating a persistent need for conversion in international land transactions.
In Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank, the dunam is the official and primary land measurement unit for all property registration, agricultural statistics, and legal documentation. Government land registries, property deeds, and agricultural census data uniformly use dunams. However, international investors and multinational corporations often require conversions to acres for portfolio standardization and cross-border investment comparisons. The dunam remains deeply embedded in cultural and legal systems—property prices are quoted per dunam, and real estate transactions are legally documented in dunams.
In the United States and Canada, the acre is the universal standard for all land measurement, property registration, agricultural statistics, and legal documentation. Government agencies (USDA, US Geological Survey, Canadian Land Information System) exclusively use acres. International transactions involving Middle Eastern or Mediterranean properties require conversion to acres for financing, insurance, and investment documentation. Most North American professionals have minimal familiarity with dunams, necessitating clear conversion documentation in cross-border transactions.
On a 1,000 dunam property, using 0.25 produces 250 acres instead of 247.105 acres—a 2.895 acre overestimation (1.17% error). For a property valued at $500,000 per acre, this error represents approximately $1.45 million in valuation discrepancy.
✓ Use the precise conversion factor: 1 dunam = 0.247105 acres. For quick mental estimates, 1 dunam ≈ 1/4 acre, but always use exact factors for legal and financial documents.
The Ottoman dönüm varies by region and era (ranging from 919 to 1,600 m²), while the modern standardized dunam equals 1,000 m². Using wrong unit definitions can produce 10-75% conversion errors depending on the variant.
✓ Confirm the specific land unit system in use: modern dunam (1,000 m² standard), Ottoman-era dönüm (varies by region), or historical variants. Always verify with local land registry authorities or property documents.
The modern standardized dunam (1,000 m²) was officially defined by Ottoman administrators in the 19th century, but regional variations persisted—some Ottoman regions used dunams ranging from 919 to 1,600 m². This historical inconsistency occasionally creates confusion in historical property records and archaeological land surveys.
Israel's entire land registry system, inherited from Ottoman and British Mandate records, uses dunams as the official measurement unit. Approximately 13 million dunams (3.2 million acres) comprise the total land area of Israel—a measurement system that has remained unchanged for over a century despite technological modernization.
One dunam equals 0.247105 acres precisely (1 dunam = 1,000 m² = 10,764.9 sq ft ÷ 43,560 sq ft/acre). For quick mental math, remember that 1 dunam is slightly less than 1/4 acre (0.25 acres). However, for legal documents, property transactions, and financial calculations, always use the precise factor 0.247105 to avoid costly rounding errors. Conversely, 1 acre equals approximately 4.047 dunams.
The dunam became the standard land measurement throughout the Ottoman Empire (which controlled the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe for over 600 years). When the Ottoman Empire dissolved after World War I, successor nations—Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey—retained the dunam as their official unit. This historical continuity created a measurement system deeply embedded in legal, cultural, and administrative systems. While, North America adopted the acre through British colonial influence, creating two distinct regional standards that persist today despite globalization.
1 square meter = 10.7639 square foot
1 square foot = 0.092903 square meter
1 hectare = 2.471 acre
1 acre = 0.404686 hectare
1 square kilometer = 0.3861 square mile
1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometer
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