IAD to DXB: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dulles (IAD) to Dubai (DXB) is a 11,356 km (7,056 mi), roughly 13h 52m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime IAD to DXB departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for views, but it also gets the sun. Sit right if you want the better window scene and do not mind extra light. Sit left if you want a calmer, shadier ride.
Choose the right side. It wins for views, and it also gets the sun, so you trade scenery for glare. You get Washington, D.C. after takeoff, a strong Scotland run in cruise, then Dubai on approach.
Takeoff
After takeoff from IAD, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets a quick look at Washington, D.C. just about 2 minutes in. It is a brief city view while you are still climbing.
En route
- 33m in← LeftCatskill Mountains
About half an hour in, the Catskill Mountains pass on the left. It is a low mountain line, so you catch the shape rather than a long scenic stretch.
- 6h 34m inRight →Isle of Skye
Near 6.5 hours in, the Isle of Skye sits on the right. It is one of the sharper coastal-island views on the route.
- 6h 40m inRight →Ben Nevis
A few minutes later, Ben Nevis is on the right. On this side, you are looking across Scotland's highest peak from cruise altitude.
- 6h 42m inRight →Loch Ness
Around the same stretch, Loch Ness is also on the right. It reads as a long dark ribbon of water rather than a big open lake view.
- 7h 56m in← LeftZealand
Just after 8 hours in, Zealand comes up on the left. It is a broad island shape, more outline than detail at this height.
- 12h 22m inRight →Zagros Mountains
Near 12 and a half hours in, the Zagros Mountains are on the right. They give the route a late mountain finish before descent.
Landing
On descent into DXB, depending on the runway in use, the right side picks up Dubai about 1 minute from landing, with the Palm Islands also on the right. Abu Musa Island and Sharjah are closer to the left, and Dubai itself passes nearly overhead, so this is a busy final look on both sides.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from IAD to DXB?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on IAD to DXB flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from IAD to DXB?
The great-circle distance is 11,356 km (7,056 mi), which works out to roughly 13h 52m in the air on this northbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from IAD to DXB?
Sit on the right for the better views. It also gets the sun, so expect more glare.
What can I see near Dubai on arrival into DXB?
Near landing, the right side gets Dubai and the Palm Islands. Dubai passes almost under the aircraft, so both sides get some final action.