SFO to DXB: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Dubai (DXB) is a 13,020 km (8,090 mi), roughly 15h 49m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to DXB departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Both | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Both |
| September equinox | Both | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Both | Both | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are spread across both sides, so they do not decide this one. The better seat is the shade side on the right.
This route is a toss-up for views, so the shade call matters more than the window call. Sit right for the shade side. You still get a strong mix of coast, mountains, and far-north terrain on both sides.
Takeoff
On departure from SFO, the right side gives you San Jose and Fremont right away, depending on the runway in use. Oakland comes up close too, almost under you, while the Golden Gate Bridge is off to the left and passes very near the aircraft.
En route
- 1h 03m inRight →Mount Hood
About an hour in, Mount Hood sits on the right. It is a sharp volcanic peak, easy to pick out if the air is clear.
- 1h 04m in← LeftPortland
Portland appears on the left just after that. You see a broad city shape rather than a single landmark.
- 1h 21m in← LeftSeattle
Seattle stays on the left later in the cruise. It reads as a wide urban spread, not a single skyline moment.
- 3h 50m in← LeftGreat Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake comes up on the left around the middle of the flight. It looks like a huge pale patch against the darker land around it.
- 15h 37m in← LeftQeshm Island
Near the end, Qeshm Island is on the left as you descend. It is a small, distinct land shape before the approach into the Gulf region.
Landing
On arrival into DXB, the right side gets Abu Musa Island, Palm Islands, and then Dubai itself, depending on the runway in use. Sharjah and Ajman sit to the left and pass almost underneath, so the last minutes are busy 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 SFO to DXB?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on SFO to DXB flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from SFO to DXB?
The great-circle distance is 13,020 km (8,090 mi), which works out to roughly 15h 49m 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 for SFO to DXB?
Sit on the right. Views are split, but the shade side is also on the right.
What will I see after takeoff from SFO?
You can catch San Jose and Fremont on the right, with Oakland close by. The Golden Gate Bridge is on the left and passes very near the aircraft.