Compare: Johannesburg→London (9,070 km) vs Johannesburg→Dubai (6,420 km). Johannesburg → Dubai wins by 2,650 km (29%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
9,070 km
5,636 miles · Flight: ~11h 50min · Drive: ~147h 23min
6,420 km
3,989 miles · Flight: ~8h 32min · Drive: ~104h 20min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 2,650 km (29%) · Flight time difference: ~3h 18min
Verdict
Johannesburg → Dubai is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 2,650 km (29%) shorter, saves about 3h 18min of flight time, and cuts roughly 676 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Johannesburg → London only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Johannesburg → Dubai is the shorter route at 6,420 km, which is 2,650 km (29%) shorter than Johannesburg → London. You would save approximately 3h 18min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Johannesburg → London | Johannesburg → Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 9,070 | 6,420 |
| Distance (miles) | 5,636 | 3,989 |
| Flight time | ~11h 50min | ~8h 32min |
| Driving time | ~147h 23min | ~104h 20min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~11,791 km | ~8,346 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 343° (NNW) | 29° (NNE) |
| Time-zone shift | -2h | +2h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~2,313 kg | ~1,637 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Johannesburg to London produces roughly 2,313 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Johannesburg → Dubai flight emits about 1,637 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 676 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 32 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Johannesburg to London route covers 9,070 km (5,636 miles), crossing from Africa to Europe. Johannesburg (population: 5,635,127) is located in Gauteng, South Africa, while London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
The Johannesburg to Dubai route covers 6,420 km (3,989 miles), spanning from Africa to Asia. Johannesburg (population: 5,635,127) is in Gauteng, South Africa, and Dubai (population: 3,331,420) is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Flying from Johannesburg to London takes approximately 11h 50min, while Johannesburg to Dubai takes 8h 32min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 147h 23min for the first route and 104h 20min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Johannesburg, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between London and Dubai as a destination.
The 2,650 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Neither route is practical by car. Flying is the recommended transport for both.
London (United Kingdom) has a population of 8,982,000 and is located in the England region of Europe. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) has a population of 3,331,420 and is situated in Dubai, Asia. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching London (United Kingdom) — a city of 8,982,000 in the England region of Europe. Despite being the longer of the two at 9,070 km, it makes sense when London 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 9,070 km. The initial bearing is 343° (NNW), so a great-circle flight leaves Johannesburg heading roughly NNW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) — a city of 3,331,420 in the Dubai region of Asia. It is also the shorter of the two at 6,420 km, saving about 3h 18min of flying and around 676 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Overland travel is not practical for 6,420 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Johannesburg, the great-circle bearing toward Dubai is 29° (NNE).
Johannesburg (-26.20°, 28.05°) and London (51.51°, -0.13°) sit with a time-zone shift of -2 hours. Johannesburg (-26.20°, 28.05°) and Dubai (25.20°, 55.27°) have a +2-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Dubai is closer at 6,420 km, which is 2,650 km (29%) shorter.
9,070 km (5,636 miles). Flight: ~11h 50min.
6,420 km (3,989 miles). Flight: ~8h 32min.
Flying to Dubai is faster at ~8h 32min, saving about 3h 18min compared to London.
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.