The River
The Diyala River is a major tributary of the Tigris River that flows through eastern Iraq and western Iran. This historical river and its valley region played an important role in several ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia.
- The Diyala River originates in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran and flows for approximately 565 km (351 miles) before joining the Tigris River just southeast of Baghdad.
- Along its path, the Diyala River passes through or near the ancient cities of Eshnunna, Tutub, and Accad, which were prominent during the Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian empires.
- The Battle of Diyala River in 693 CE was a decisive victory for the Umayyad Caliphate over the Kharijites, solidifying Umayyad control over most of present-day Iraq.
The route of this flight
An airplane flying from Dubai to Istanbul first heads northwest over the Persian Gulf after taking off from Dubai International Airport. It crosses over Saudi Arabia and passes near the Iraqi cities of Basra and Baghdad.
This roughly 2,000 km (1,250 mile) journey takes around 4 hours of flying time, depending on winds.
Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airline and FlyDubai all ply this route and have multiple flights a day.