London to Abu Dhabi
7h 16m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) covers 5,516 km (3,427 miles) and takes approximately 7h 16m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads east on an initial great-circle bearing of 101°, passing near 41.2° N, 32.7° E at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 10h 02m | 10h 27m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 7h 04m | 7h 29m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 6h 08m | 6h 33m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 6h 29m | 6h 55m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| LHR | AUH | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | Zayed International Airport |
| City | London | Abu Dhabi |
| Country | United Kingdom | United Arab Emirates |
| ICAO | EGLL | OMAA |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | 24.441, 54.6492 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 88 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to Abu Dhabi?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) takes about 7h 16m. The great-circle distance is 5,516 km (3,427 miles, 2,978 nautical miles), flying east on an initial bearing of 101°.
How far is London from Abu Dhabi?
5,516 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 3,427 miles or 2,978 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between LHR and AUH?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 5,516 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 7h 16m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Other routes from London
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.