Photo: Nepenthes · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The world's largest contiguous sand desert covers 650,000 sq km across the southern Arabian Peninsula. The vast orange dune fields stretch to every horizon on flights between the Gulf and Yemen or Oman.
153Flight Routes
3 kmClosest Pass
🏜️ DesertType
Routes that pass it153
JED → PNY
Both Sides
PNY → JED
Both Sides
DXB → EBB
Both Sides
EBB → DXB
Both Sides
CAI → MEL
Left
MEL → CAI
Right
BLR → JED
Left
JED → BLR
Right
CAI → MEB
Left
JED → KUL
Left
KUL → JED
Right
MEB → CAI
Right
ADD → DXB
Right
DXB → ADD
Left
JED → MAA
Right
MAA → JED
Left
DOH → MPM
Left
MPM → DOH
Right
KWI → SFO
Right
SFO → KWI
Left
DAR → DOH
Right
DOH → DAR
Left
DOH → ZNZ
Left
ZNZ → DOH
Right
ATL → RUH
Right
RUH → ATL
Left
LHR → RUH
Right
RUH → LHR
Left
DOH → JNB
Left
JNB → DOH
Right
AUH → WIL
Right
WIL → AUH
Left
DOH → GCJ
Left
GCJ → DOH
Right
AUH → NBO
Right
DXB → WIL
Right
NBO → AUH
Left
WIL → DXB
Left
DOH → HLA
Left
HLA → DOH
Right
DXB → NBO
Right
NBO → DXB
Left
SHJ → WIL
Right
WIL → SHJ
Left
DWC → NBO
Right
NBO → DWC
Left
NBO → SHJ
Left
SHJ → NBO
Right
CDG → RUH
Right
RUH → CDG
Left
DOH → JRO
Left
JRO → DOH
Right
CAI → PER
Left
PER → CAI
Right
CGK → JED
Right
JED → CGK
Left
AUH → PEK
Right
CPT → DOH
Right
DOH → CPT
Left
PEK → AUH
Left
DOH → NBO
Left
NBO → DOH
Right
AUH → NRT
Right
NRT → AUH
Left
DOH → WIL
Left
WIL → DOH
Right
GVA → RUH
Right
RUH → GVA
Left
AUH → HND
Right
CGK → MED
Left
HND → AUH
Left
MED → CGK
Right
DXB → LAD
Left
LAD → DXB
Right
AUH → BHI
Left
BHI → AUH
Right
DOH → LUN
Left
LUN → DOH
Right
AUH → ICN
Right
ICN → AUH
Left
CPT → DXB
Left
DXB → CPT
Right
DWC → HND
Right
HND → DWC
Left
JED → NMI
Right
NMI → JED
Left
AUH → ITM
Right
ITM → AUH
Left
AUH → KIX
Right
KIX → AUH
Left
DXB → HRE
Right
DXB → PEK
Right
HRE → DXB
Left
PEK → DXB
Left
DXB → NRT
Right
NRT → DXB
Left
AUH → JNB
Right
JNB → AUH
Left
DXB → HND
Right
HND → DXB
Left
AUH → ZNZ
Right
ZNZ → AUH
Left
DWC → KIX
Right
KIX → DWC
Left
BFI → DOH
Right
DOH → BFI
Left
DOH → SEA
Left
DXB → HLA
Right
SEA → DOH
Right
DXB → GMP
Right
GMP → DXB
Left
AUH → EZE
Left
DXB → GCJ
Right
EZE → AUH
Right
GCJ → DXB
Left
DXB → ICN
Right
HNL → NBO
Right
ICN → DXB
Left
NBO → HNL
Left
DXB → JNB
Right
JNB → DXB
Left
DOH → SFO
Left
DXB → ZNZ
Right
SFO → DOH
Right
ZNZ → DXB
Left
DAR → DXB
Left
DXB → DAR
Right
DXB → ITM
Right
ITM → DXB
Left
DXB → KIX
Right
KIX → DXB
Left
DOH → EBB
Left
EBB → DOH
Right
DOH → SEZ
Right
SEZ → DOH
Left
DXB → KCZ
Right
KCZ → DXB
Left
BFL → DOH
Right
DOH → BFL
Left
DOH → KGL
Left
KGL → DOH
Right
KGL → MCT
Left
MCT → KGL
Right
AUH → PVG
Right
PVG → AUH
Left
DOH → LAX
Left
LAX → DOH
Right
DXB → MPM
Right
MPM → DXB
Left
DOH → NZY
Left
NZY → DOH
Right
KUL → MED
Left
MED → KUL
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) from a plane?
Yes — 153 flight routes pass within 300 km of Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter). The closest routes include Jeddah to Puducherry (Pondicherry), Puducherry (Pondicherry) to Jeddah, Dubai to Entebbe. The landmark is visible from both sides, with the landmark passing about 3 km away.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter)?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter): on a Jeddah to Puducherry (Pondicherry) flight, visible from both sides; on a Puducherry (Pondicherry) to Jeddah flight, visible from both sides; on a Dubai to Entebbe flight, visible from both sides.