Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Abu Dhabi to London. The London approach on the right side is the single most spectacular moment of the flight, with the Thames and central London laid out below. While the left side wins at departure for the Abu Dhabi coastline, the right side delivers the more iconic and sustained view during the long descent into Heathrow. If you can only pick one side, right gives you London.

During takeoff from Abu Dhabi International (AUH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Abu Dhabi International typically departs westward on runway 31L/31R, then turns northwest toward Europe. The left side gives you the Abu Dhabi city skyline, the Corniche waterfront, and the dense island geography of the capital as you climb out over the Arabian Gulf. The right side faces inland desert with little of interest. Notable sights include: Abu Dhabi Corniche and city skyline, Yas Island (with its distinctive Yas Marina Circuit layout visible from low altitude), the shallow turquoise waters and sand islands of the inner Arabian Gulf, Saadiyat Island.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow most commonly lands on westerly headings (runway 27L/27R), approaching from the east over central London. The right side of the aircraft faces south, giving you a clear view of the Thames snaking through London, the City of London, Canary Wharf, and the wider suburban sprawl. The left side faces north toward less visually distinctive outer suburbs. Notable sights include: River Thames and its distinctive meanders through central London, Canary Wharf tower cluster, the City of London financial district, Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park visible to the right as you pass west of London.

The flight from Abu Dhabi International (AUH) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours.

The route tracks northwest from Abu Dhabi across the Arabian Peninsula, crossing into Iraq near Basra and over Baghdad, then across eastern Turkey and the Anatolian plateau, over the Black Sea or northern Turkey depending on routing, across Bulgaria and Romania, over Central Europe through Austria or Germany, then across France and the English Channel into southern England. Notable features include the Zagros Mountains of western Iran visible to the right early in the flight, the Anatolian plateau, the Alps visible as a distant white ridge to the south if routing over Germany, and the English Channel crossing before descent.