Compare: Dubai→Sydney (12,050 km) vs Dubai→London (5,473 km). Dubai → London wins by 6,577 km (55%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
12,050 km
7,488 miles · Flight: ~15h 34min · Drive: ~195h 49min
5,473 km
3,401 miles · Flight: ~7h 20min · Drive: ~88h 56min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 6,577 km (55%) · Flight time difference: ~8h 14min
Verdict
Dubai → London is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 6,577 km (55%) shorter, saves about 8h 14min of flight time, and cuts roughly 1,677 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Dubai → Sydney only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Dubai → London is the shorter route at 5,473 km, which is 6,577 km (55%) shorter than Dubai → Sydney. You would save approximately 8h 14min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Dubai → Sydney | Dubai → London |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 12,050 | 5,473 |
| Distance (miles) | 7,488 | 3,401 |
| Flight time | ~15h 34min | ~7h 20min |
| Driving time | ~195h 49min | ~88h 56min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~15,665 km | ~7,115 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 120° (ESE) | 317° (NW) |
| Time-zone shift | +6h | -4h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~3,073 kg | ~1,396 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Dubai to Sydney produces roughly 3,073 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Dubai → London flight emits about 1,396 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 1,677 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 80 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Dubai to Sydney route covers 12,050 km (7,488 miles), crossing from Asia to Oceania. Dubai (population: 3,331,420) is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, while Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia.
The Dubai to London route covers 5,473 km (3,401 miles), spanning from Asia to Europe. Dubai (population: 3,331,420) is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
Flying from Dubai to Sydney takes approximately 15h 34min, while Dubai to London takes 7h 20min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 195h 49min for the first route and 88h 56min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Dubai, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Sydney and London as a destination.
The 6,577 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Neither route is practical by car. Flying is the recommended transport for both.
Sydney (Australia) has a population of 5,312,163 and is located in the New South Wales region of Oceania. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
London (United Kingdom) has a population of 8,982,000 and is situated in England, Europe. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Sydney (Australia) — a city of 5,312,163 in the New South Wales region of Oceania. Despite being the longer of the two at 12,050 km, it makes sense when Sydney itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 12,050 km. The initial bearing is 120° (ESE), so a great-circle flight leaves Dubai heading roughly ESE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to London (United Kingdom) — a city of 8,982,000 in the England region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 5,473 km, saving about 8h 14min of flying and around 1,677 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Overland travel is not practical for 5,473 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Dubai, the great-circle bearing toward London is 317° (NW).
Dubai (25.20°, 55.27°) and Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) sit with a time-zone shift of +6 hours. Dubai (25.20°, 55.27°) and London (51.51°, -0.13°) have a -4-hour offset. Routes with time-zone shifts of 5 hours or more typically produce noticeable jet lag — plan one recovery day per three time zones crossed.
London is closer at 5,473 km, which is 6,577 km (55%) shorter.
12,050 km (7,488 miles). Flight: ~15h 34min.
5,473 km (3,401 miles). Flight: ~7h 20min.
Flying to London is faster at ~7h 20min, saving about 8h 14min compared to Sydney.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.