Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Dubai to London. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over Dubai you get the city and creek on departure, and over London you get the Thames and central London on approach. The mid-flight routing over Turkey and central Europe offers occasional mountain and coastline views on both sides, but the departure and arrival spectacles are the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Dubai International (DXB), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dubai International's primary departure runway 30L/30R sends aircraft northwest over the city. The left side gets the Dubai Creek, Deira district, and the older urban fabric of Dubai before the desert opens up. Right side faces the desert immediately. Notable sights include: Dubai Creek and Deira waterfront, Downtown Dubai skyline including Burj Khalifa visible to the south, Palm Jumeirah visible further southwest, Dubai Marina towers on the far left horizon.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow's most common landing direction is runway 27L/27R, approaching from the east over London. Left side passengers get a direct view over central London — the Thames, Tower Bridge, the City, and Westminster — as the aircraft descends through 3,000-6,000 feet on final approach. Notable sights include: River Thames snaking through central London, Tower Bridge and London Bridge visible as thin spans crossing the river, The City of London financial district cluster, Canary Wharf towers in the Isle of Dogs.

The flight from Dubai International (DXB) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 7 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours 45 minutes.

The route typically tracks northwest over Oman briefly, then Iran's Zagros Mountains (a dramatic folded ridge system visible from altitude), across the Caspian Sea, over the Caucasus or eastern Turkey depending on routing, then across the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Serbia, Austria or southern Germany, and finally across France and the English Channel before descending into Heathrow. The Zagros Mountains and the Alps (if routing goes slightly north) are the most visually striking terrain features en route.