Dubai to San Francisco
16h 36m The flight from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) covers 13,020 km (8,090 miles) and takes approximately 16h 36m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north on an initial great-circle bearing of 358°, passing near 83.6° N, 40.0° E at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 23h 40m | 24h 06m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 16h 42m | 17h 07m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 14h 28m | 14h 53m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 15h 19m | 15h 44m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| DXB | SFO | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Dubai International Airport | San Francisco International Airport |
| City | Dubai | San Francisco |
| Country | United Arab Emirates | United States |
| ICAO | OMDB | KSFO |
| Coordinates | 25.2498, 55.371 | 37.6198, -122.3748 |
| Elevation | 62 ft | 13 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Dubai to San Francisco?
A non-stop flight from Dubai (DXB) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 16h 36m. The great-circle distance is 13,020 km (8,090 miles, 7,030 nautical miles), flying north on an initial bearing of 358°.
How far is Dubai from San Francisco?
13,020 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 8,090 miles or 7,030 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between DXB and SFO?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 13,020 km the route is within reach of long-range widebodies, though not every city pair is served non-stop. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 16h 36m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.