Compare: Tokyo→Dubai (7,930 km) vs Tokyo→London (9,559 km). Tokyo → Dubai wins by 1,629 km (17%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
7,930 km
4,927 miles · Flight: ~10h 25min
✓ Shorter route
9,559 km
5,940 miles · Flight: ~12h 27min
Difference: 1,629 km (17%) · Flight time difference: ~2h 2min
Verdict
Tokyo → Dubai is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 1,629 km (17%) shorter, saves about 2h 2min of flight time, and cuts roughly 416 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Tokyo → London only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Tokyo → Dubai is the shorter route at 7,930 km, which is 1,629 km (17%) shorter than Tokyo → London. You would save approximately 2h 2min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Tokyo → Dubai | Tokyo → London |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 7,930 | 9,559 |
| Distance (miles) | 4,927 | 5,940 |
| Flight time | ~10h 25min | ~12h 27min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | No | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 288° (WNW) | 336° (NNW) |
| Time-zone shift | -5h | -8h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~2,022 kg | ~2,438 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Tokyo to Dubai produces roughly 2,022 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Tokyo → London flight emits about 2,438 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 416 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 20 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Tokyo to Dubai route covers 7,930 km (4,927 miles), staying within Asia. Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is located in Kanto, Japan, while Dubai (population: 3,331,420) is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Tokyo to London route covers 9,559 km (5,940 miles), spanning from Asia to Europe. Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan, and London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
Flying from Tokyo to Dubai takes approximately 10h 25min, while Tokyo to London takes 12h 27min.
Since both routes depart from Tokyo, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Dubai and London as a destination.
The 1,629 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Neither route has a road figure we can defend. There is no continuous road connection between Tokyo and Dubai — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport. There is no continuous road connection between Tokyo and London — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
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.
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 Dubai (United Arab Emirates) — a city of 3,331,420 in the Dubai region of Asia. It is also the shorter option at 7,930 km, which translates to a 2h 2min flight-time saving and roughly 416 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 7,930 km. The initial bearing is 288° (WNW), so a great-circle flight leaves Tokyo heading roughly WNW.
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. Even though it is the longer route at 9,559 km, it remains the obvious pick when London is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Tokyo are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Overland travel is not practical for 9,559 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Tokyo, the great-circle bearing toward London is 336° (NNW).
Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) → Dubai (25.20°, 55.27°): Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time and Dubai keeps Asia/Dubai time — a gap of about 5 hours, with Dubai behind. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) → London (51.51°, -0.13°): Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time and London keeps Europe/London time — a gap of about 8 hours, with London behind. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Both gaps come from the cities' real IANA zones and move with daylight saving. Shifts of 5 hours or more typically produce noticeable jet lag — plan one recovery day per three time zones crossed.
Dubai is closer at 7,930 km, which is 1,629 km (17%) shorter.
7,930 km (4,927 miles). Flight: ~10h 25min.
9,559 km (5,940 miles). Flight: ~12h 27min.
Flying to Dubai is faster at ~10h 25min, saving about 2h 2min 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.