Compare: London→Dubai (5,473 km) vs London→New York (5,570 km). London → Dubai wins by 97 km (2%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
5,473 km
3,401 miles · Flight: ~7h 20min · Drive: ~88h 56min
✓ Shorter route
5,570 km
3,461 miles · Flight: ~7h 28min · Drive: ~90h 31min
Difference: 97 km (2%) · Flight time difference: ~8 min
Verdict
London → Dubai is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 97 km (2%) shorter, saves about 8 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 24 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose London → New York only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
London → Dubai is the shorter route at 5,473 km, which is 97 km (2%) shorter than London → New York. You would save approximately 8 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | London → Dubai | London → New York |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 5,473 | 5,570 |
| Distance (miles) | 3,401 | 3,461 |
| Flight time | ~7h 20min | ~7h 28min |
| Driving time | ~88h 56min | ~90h 31min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~7,115 km | ~7,241 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 100° (E) | 288° (WNW) |
| Time-zone shift | +4h | -5h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~1,396 kg | ~1,420 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from London to Dubai produces roughly 1,396 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The London → New York flight emits about 1,420 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 24 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 1 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The London to Dubai route covers 5,473 km (3,401 miles), crossing from Europe to Asia. London (population: 8,982,000) is located in England, United Kingdom, while Dubai (population: 3,331,420) is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The London to New York route covers 5,570 km (3,461 miles), spanning from Europe to North America. London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom, and New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States.
Flying from London to Dubai takes approximately 7h 20min, while London to New York takes 7h 28min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 88h 56min for the first route and 90h 31min for the second.
Since both routes depart from London, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Dubai and New York as a destination.
The 97 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Neither route is practical by car. Flying is the recommended transport for both.
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) has a population of 3,331,420 and is located in the Dubai region of Asia. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
New York (United States) has a population of 8,336,817 and is situated in Northeast, North America. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Dubai (United Arab Emirates) — a city of 3,331,420 in the Dubai region of Asia. It is also the shorter option at 5,473 km, which translates to a 8 min flight-time saving and roughly 24 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 5,473 km. The initial bearing is 100° (E), so a great-circle flight leaves London heading roughly E.
This route is the right call if you are heading to New York (United States) — a city of 8,336,817 in the Northeast region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 5,570 km, it remains the obvious pick when New York is the actual destination, when departure schedules from London are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Overland travel is not practical for 5,570 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing London, the great-circle bearing toward New York is 288° (WNW).
London (51.51°, -0.13°) and Dubai (25.20°, 55.27°) sit with a time-zone shift of +4 hours. London (51.51°, -0.13°) and New York (40.71°, -74.01°) have a -5-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.
Dubai is closer at 5,473 km, which is 97 km (2%) shorter.
5,473 km (3,401 miles). Flight: ~7h 20min.
5,570 km (3,461 miles). Flight: ~7h 28min.
Flying to Dubai is faster at ~7h 20min, saving about 8 min compared to New York.
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: May 30, 2026.