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Nairobi to Dubai Flight Distance

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Medium HaulNorth-Northeast (33°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

2,205
Miles
3,548
Kilometers
1,916
Nautical miles
4h 50m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale3,548 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

NBO
Origin
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Nairobi, Kenya
-1.3192°, 36.9278°
DXB
Destination
Dubai International Airport
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
25.2528°, 55.3644°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 2,205 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 4h 50m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: Dubai is 1 hour ahead of Nairobi. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 553 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs—planting 51 trees could offset this flight.

Flight Options: 4 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)2,205 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)3,548 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)1,916 nmAviation standard
Flight Time4h 50mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction33° NNENorth-Northeast
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+1hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)553 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1605 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)2214 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset51Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger106 L~19,080 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines4Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this north-northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Bring entertainment, snacks, and a neck pillow for comfort.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 553 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 51 trees.
Compare Prices
With 4 airlines on this route, compare prices across carriers for the best deal.
NBO
DEPARTURE

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Nairobi, Kenya

IATA / ICAO
NBO / HKJK
Elevation
5,330 ft (1625 m)
Local Time
08:37 PM
GMT+3
Coordinates
-1.3192°, 36.9278°
View full airport details
DXB
ARRIVAL+1h from departure

Dubai International Airport

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

IATA / ICAO
DXB / OMDB
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Local Time
09:37 PM
GMT+4
Coordinates
25.2528°, 55.3644°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

4 airlines operate flights between Nairobi and Dubai.

EK
Emirates
United Arab Emirates
KL
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Netherlands
KQ
Kenya Airways
Kenya
QF
Qantas
Australia

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
North-Northeast
Initial bearing: 33°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
106 L per passenger
~19,080 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
This route crosses the Equator
This route crosses the Equator from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
12° 7' 6.1" N
12.1184°
Longitude
45° 40' 50.6" E
45.6807°
Halfway Point
1,103 mi
145 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
553 kg
CO2e: 1052 kg
Premium Economy
886 kg
CO2e: 1683 kg
Business
1605 kg
CO2e: 3050 kg
First Class
2214 kg
CO2e: 4207 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 51 trees.Equivalent to 1.1 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
1 hour forward
Flying eastward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the right (east/south) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on northbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
8.9% of Earth's circumference
2
108 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to Los Angeles to New York (3,944 km)
4
2.9 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles2,205 mi
Kilometers3,548 km
Nautical Miles1,916 nm
Meters3,548,000 m
Feet11,642,400 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)4h 50m

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 3,548 km between Nairobi and Dubai at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h4h 50m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h7h 6m
Bullet Train320 km/h11h 5m
Car (highway)100 km/h35h 29m
Walking5 km/h710h (30 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h2h 52m

Round Trip Summary

4,410
total miles
7,096
total km
9h 40m
total flight time
1,106
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: DXB to NBO

Quick Facts

Distance2,205 mi
Flight Time4h 50m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNNE
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+1h
CO2 (Economy)553 kg
Airlines4

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Nairobi from Dubai?

The flight distance from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) is 2,205 miles (3,548 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 4h 50m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Dubai is 1 hour ahead of Nairobi.

What airlines fly this route?

4 airlines operate this route: Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kenya Airways and 1 more.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 553 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1605 kg. First class: 2214 kg. Offset with ~51 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this North-Northeast flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Nairobi to Dubai instead of flying?

Driving is not practical for this 3,548 km distance, especially across international borders. It would theoretically take over 44 hours of driving. Flying at 4h 50m is the recommended option.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 553 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 51 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route