Spotter

King Fahd International Airport (DMM / OEDF) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor

Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia

King Fahd

DMM/OEDF

Updated Wed 28 Oct, 02:36 local

Active runway
16L / 16R

Wind vector · +2 kt headwind

METAR wind
220° @ 3 kt

VFR

Best spot
Short final 16L - sunny side

Night

Sun
83° / -43°

Sunrise in 3h 12m

NightWant a Telegram ping when OEDF flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo

Best King Fahd (DMM) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle

Live weather

VFR

220° @ 3 kt

26°C · 10+ km · 1013 hPa

CAVOK

Wed 28 Oct, 02:36 localAz 83° · El -43°Night

Sunrise in 3h 12m

+0h

Runway alerts for King Fahd International Airport

$3/mo

Get instant Telegram alerts when the active runway flips, TAF winds shift, or golden hour starts. One $3/mo subscription covers unlimited airports.

Instant activation via Stripe and @planespottingmapbot. Cancel anytime with /stop.

Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies

Lighting schedule

Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at DMM, scored from each spot's view bearing.

Spotting LocationMorning (07:00-11:00)Midday (11:00-14:00)Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00)JetPhotos / Camera Note
Short final 16L - sunny side

Runway 16L

SIDE LIGHTBACKLIT / GLARESIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 11:00-15:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Short final 16R - sunny side

Runway 16R

SIDE LIGHTBACKLIT / GLARESIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 11:00-15:00 harsh backlit contrast.
Open the full spotting guide

Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at King Fahd (DMM/OEDF)

Which runway is active at King Fahd (DMM/OEDF) right now?

As of Wed 28 Oct, 02:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 16L+16R. The METAR wind is 220° at 3 kt. 16L shows +1.7 kt headwind and 2.5 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.

Where is the best place to plane spot at King Fahd (DMM) in the morning vs. afternoon?

At 08:00 local the sun is at 122° azimuth and 26° elevation. Short final 16L - sunny side scores 75/100, 1234 m from runway 16L, view bearing 194.2°, best as a midday spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 248° and 12°. Short final 16L - sunny side scores 83/100 on a 135.7° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.

What is the best time to plane spot at King Fahd International Airport?

The best time to plane spot at King Fahd International Airport (DMM/OEDF) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 2 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.

What is the sun direction at OEDF spotting locations?

OEDF spotting locations sun direction: Short final 16L - sunny side (runway 16L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 11:00-15:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 16R - sunny side (runway 16R) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 11:00-15:00 harsh backlit contrast.

What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at King Fahd (DMM)?

Short final 16L - sunny side is 1234 m from the 16L centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.

What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at King Fahd (OEDF)?

Monitor Tower 124.35 MHz, Ground 121.65 MHz, Approach 126.3 MHz, ATIS 128.05 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 124.35 MHz.

How do I know when King Fahd (DMM) switches active runways?

No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 220° at 3 kt, so 16L remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/OEDF#runway-alerts