Planespotting Dubai — OMDB
Dubai International is the home of Emirates and flydubai, and nowhere else on the planet sees so many A380s in a single day. Add carriers from Iran, Iraq, Central Asia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent that rarely leave their region, and the logbook potential is enormous. The catch is legal, not technical: photographing aircraft at DXB is officially not permitted, and spotters have been questioned and detained even kilometres from the fence. The two parallel runways, 12L/30R and 12R/30L, normally run in the 30 direction with 30L for arrivals and 30R for departures; when the wind swings round from the desert, arrivals move to 12L. The airport is busiest at night, with the Emirates banks around midnight and again late morning, so hotel rooftops and rooms with a runway view are the realistic way to log this place. Treat this guide as a low-profile plan, and check the latest local rules before you pack a long lens.
- FDB3CF B38M 6 250 ft
- FDB3HP B39M 5 500 ft
- ABY1830 A320 4 450 ft
- AEE959 A20N 1 975 ft RWY 30L
- A6EXP A359
- ETH603 A359
- WK7
- EL15
Conditions right now
Runways
- 12R/30L RWY 30L 4,450 × 60 m · 14,600 × 197 ft asphalt
- 12L/30R 4,344 × 60 m · 14,252 × 197 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 01:00
Typical traffic mix
- Widebody50%
- Narrowbody44%
- Cargo3%
- Bizjet3%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Premier Inn Dubai International Airport — rooftop pool deck
The most relaxed option at DXB: the pool deck on the roof of this budget hotel behind Terminal 3 looks out over 30L departures, and staff have long tolerated guests with cameras. Some airport-facing rooms also give night views of the Terminal 3 apron.
- Getting there
- Hotel on 52b Street, Al Garhoud, a few minutes from Terminal 3; Red Line metro to Airport Terminal 3 station, then a short taxi. Lift to the top floor and stairs to the pool deck. You need to be a guest — book a room.
- Best time
- 30L departures from around noon to sunset; on overcast days usable all day. Keep it discreet so it stays tolerated.
- Lens
- 70–400 mm; roughly 250–300 mm fills the frame with a departing 777.
Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Deira — rooftop pool
North-west of the airport in Deira, this hotel sits side-on to the approach paths for the 12L and 12R runways, so it only pays off when the wind puts arrivals on the 12s. Spotters report no trouble shooting from the rooftop pool area.
- Getting there
- Deira, about 1.5 km from Terminal 1; taxi from the terminals. Rooftop access is for hotel guests; ask for a north-facing room on an upper floor for the approach view.
- Best time
- Only on easterly (desert) wind days with 12L/12R arrivals; late morning into the afternoon in winter. In summer the haze is heavy.
- Lens
- 300 mm minimum for narrowbodies; 100–400 mm covers everything.
Mirdif — open ground by the Sport Society, north of Mirdif City Centre
The classic open-air spot for 30L arrivals, a short distance from the threshold with heavies at a comfortable size; 12R departures are also visible from here. Construction work in front of the site began in late 2024, so it may already be changed or gone.
- Getting there
- Follow signs for Mirdif City Centre (D89 towards Al Khawaneej); park on the sandy area along the wall beyond the Dubai Tennis Academy. Public transport: Red Line to Centrepoint, then bus F10 to Mirdif City Centre. Stay inside your car — the area is patrolled and you are fully visible.
- Best time
- 30L arrivals, roughly 11:00 to sunset in winter. October–April only; summer haze ruins it.
- Lens
- About 150 mm for a 777 or A380, 300 mm for a 737.
Al Khabaisi Park
A small public park in Deira with a long view of heavy departures from 30R and, at a poorer angle, 30L. Light poles intrude at times but the angle on climbing widebodies is good.
- Getting there
- Off D74 at 22A Street in Al Khabaisi; paid street parking nearby, metro and taxi from the city. You are on foot and exposed — keep the camera in the bag between movements and follow park rules.
- Best time
- Departures on the 30s from about 10:00 to sunset in winter.
- Lens
- 300 mm for widebodies, 400 mm+ for narrowbodies.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Emirates dominates: A380s and 777-300ERs by the hundred every day, plus its newer A350s. flydubai adds a steady flow of 737 MAX and 737-800s from Terminal 2 and parts of Terminal 3. The real draw for logbook hunters is the regional mix — Iran Air, Mahan, Kish Air, Iraqi Airways, Ariana, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and a long list of Indian and Pakistani operators — alongside the usual European and Asian majors. Pure freighters are rarer than they used to be, as much of the cargo has moved to Dubai World Central. Traffic peaks overnight, so daylight only shows part of the operation.
FAQ
What's that plane over Dubai?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B-equipped aircraft around Dubai with its type, registration and route — handy for logging from your hotel room without pointing a camera anywhere. It's free and runs in the browser.
Is plane spotting legal at Dubai International?
Officially, photographing aircraft and airport facilities at DXB is not permitted, and police do question people near the perimeter. Hotel rooftops used by guests are the lowest-risk option. Always check the current rules; you spot here at your own risk.
Which runway is in use at DXB?
Most of the time traffic lands on 30L and departs from 30R. With easterly desert winds arrivals switch to 12L and departures to 12R. Spotterra shows the active direction from the live METAR.
When is the best time of year to spot in Dubai?
October to April. From May to September the heat haze and high sun make sharp photos almost impossible for most of the day.
Spotterra watches the sky over Dubai
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