Travelling from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can start your trip from in Dubai. Explore your options leaving from Dubai Airport (DXB) or Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) when booking your flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Take off on a direct Dubai to San Francisco International Airport flight and you'll be in the air for around 15 hours 55 minutes.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city runs on the UTC-7 timezone and is 11 hours behind Dubai.
Dubai Airport (DXB) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the busiest route, with 7 direct services every week. You can get from DXB to SFO on Emirates's 8:50am departure.
For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your flight from Dubai to SFO.
Delays at check-in and security are more likely if you're travelling during high season, so give yourself some extra breathing space. The recommendation for peak times? Get there up to four hours early for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Dubai Airport (DXB) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) take off from this terminal.
You can travel on a direct flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport with Emirates. This top carrier operates services from DXB.
The most frequently booked airline between DXB and SFO is Emirates.
The most punctual carrier on this route is Emirates. Its services arrive as planned 67.21% of the time.
We make it easy to book cheap flights from Dubai to SFO that include a stopover. To explore your options departing from Dubai Airport (DXB), deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply select a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers between DXB and SFO include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Travelling from central Dubai to DXB takes about 50 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 14 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Have an early flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by choosing one of these stays near Dubai Airport:
Of all flights departing from Dubai Airport, 74.31% arrive on time at their destination.
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Experience more along the way with a stopover on your flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is a great option between Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport and SFO.
DWC is around 56 kilometres from central Dubai. It'll take 45 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 2 hours 5 minutes.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport the day before your Dubai to SFO flight:
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 56.64%. This figure highlights how often flights that take off from this airport arrive on time.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Consider booking a hotel near SFO if you have a late flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport. Choose one of these options and end the night sooner:
Pick up a San Francisco International Airport rental car and explore San Francisco and beyond with your own wheels. Dollar, Thrifty and Hertz are popular providers you can book with here.
To get the best deal, book your vehicle around one week in advance of your Dubai to San Francisco International Airport flight.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport to the centre of San Francisco is around 18 kilometres. If you're renting a car or taking a cab, do some research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times will vary depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport is RM2,066. For a return flight on this route, the best price is RM3,206. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Book one month before you want to travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Dubai to SFO.
The best month for landing cheap Dubai to San Francisco International Airport tickets is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a better deal is available on plane tickets from Dubai to SFO.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport.
The best time to fly from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
It's time to figure out when to book your flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). August is the most popular month to visit San Francisco. If you're all about a more relaxed kind of trip, head there in February.
Book a Dubai to SFO plane ticket departing in September if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in San Francisco to range from 12ºC (54ºF) to 22ºC (72ºF).
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport in January when temperatures are between 6ºC (43ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF).
More about San Francisco
Start your San Francisco trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Dubai to San Francisco International Airport, explore our range of accommodation options including:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island are attractions you won't want to skip in San Francisco.
Explore more of the United States
You've done San Francisco, now it's time to explore other corners of the United States. Journey about 257 kilometres east to Fresno to check off its top attractions. From Forestiere Underground Gardens to Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
If you're looking to explore another major stop in the United States, consider Sacramento, about 129 kilometres north-east of San Francisco. Old Sacramento Waterfront, Fright Planet - America's Haunted Theme Park and California State Railroad Museum are the start of reasons to visit.
