Seeing Dubai from a plane10 ★
From pearl-diving town to global city in about 50 years. Look for the Burj Khalifa, 2,717 ft and the tallest building in the world, and the palm-shaped artificial islands off the coast.
9 of our routes pass it. United Arab Emirates · rated 10 of 10
The easy pick
Boston to Dubai: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Dubai | Left | on the way down |
| Houston to Dubai | Left | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Dubai | Left | on the way down |
| Miami to Dubai | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
| New York to Mumbai | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 700 min after takeoff |
| New York to Dubai | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
| Newark to Delhi | Right | 713 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Dubai | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
| Seattle to Dubai | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Dubai from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (6 of 9). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Dubai from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Dubai at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Sharjah International Airport Ajman Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi Boston (BOS) Houston (IAH) Los Angeles (LAX) Miami (MIA) All routes