LHR to DXB: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Dubai (DXB) is a 5,498 km (3,417 mi), roughly 6h 58m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR 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 | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Right | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views don’t decide this route, so follow the shade side on the left.
This route doesn’t pick a clear views side. You get a mix of left and right, so shade does the deciding.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LHR, depending on the runway in use, look right for Portsmouth, then Brighton and Hove and Beachy Head during the climb. London passes very close on the left, so it feels brief and steep rather than wide open.
En route
- 11m inRight →Strait of Dover
About 10 minutes in, the Strait of Dover sits on your right. It is a quick coastal glance, not a long hold.
- 39m in← LeftCologne
Around 40 minutes in, Cologne is on your left, with Düsseldorf, Bonn, and Aachen close by in the same left-side stretch.
- 1h 14m inRight →Bavarian Forest
About an hour and 15 minutes in, the Bavarian Forest appears on your right. It is a low mountain range, seen off to that side.
- 1h 47m inRight →Lake Balaton
Near 1 hour 45 minutes in, Lake Balaton is on your right. From cruise height it reads as a broad water shape, not a close-up shore view.
- 2h 27m in← LeftCarpathians
Around 2 hours 25 minutes in, the Carpathians run on your left. The range stays well off to that side as you continue east.
- 3h 53m inRight →Anatolia
Close to 4 hours in, Anatolia is on your right, followed by Mount Nemrut on the same side. These are late-route markers rather than a single long panorama.
Landing
On descent into DXB, depending on the runway in use, Abu Musa Island comes up on the left first. Then Dubai is nearly under you, while the Palm Islands sit on the right and Sharjah on the left near touchdown.
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 LHR 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 LHR 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 LHR to DXB?
The great-circle distance is 5,498 km (3,417 mi), which works out to roughly 6h 58m in the air on this eastbound 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 LHR to DXB?
Shade is on the left, and views are mixed, so the left side is the safer pick.
What will I see near landing into Dubai?
Depending on the runway in use, Abu Musa Island is on the left, Dubai passes nearly overhead, and the Palm Islands are on the right.