Abu Dhabi to London flight path: AUH to LHR

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Abu Dhabi to London. The left side strings together the most recognizable landmarks across the whole flight: Abu Dhabi's mosque and skyline at takeoff, Jordan's desert highlands and Turkey's Taurus Mountains with the Mediterranean coastline during cruise, and a rare over-London descent into Heathrow. The right side spends more time over featureless desert, the Anatolian plateau, and flat Central European farmland.

During takeoff from Abu Dhabi International (AUH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing AUH to the northwest, the initial climb banks enough that left-side passengers get a clear look back over Abu Dhabi's Corniche skyline and the white domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque before the city gives way to open desert. The right side mostly shows Gulf waters and low sandbank islands with less distinctive detail. Notable sights include: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi Corniche skyline, Arabian coastal desert.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the common westerly approach into Heathrow, the descent path curves the aircraft over the London area before the final turn onto the runway, and left-side passengers typically get the clearer view across the River Thames toward Canary Wharf and the City skyline. The right side during this phase mostly shows the flatter suburbs of west London with less to see. Notable sights include: River Thames bends, Canary Wharf towers, London Eye, City of London skyline.

The flight from Abu Dhabi International (AUH) to Heathrow (LHR) takes 7h 15m.

The route crosses the Arabian and Jordanian deserts, then the Taurus Mountains and Turkey's Mediterranean coast near Adana, continues over the Anatolian plateau and Bulgaria, skirts the eastern edge of the Alps near Austria, and finishes over the flat lowlands of Germany, the Netherlands, and the English coast.