Urology in Dubai

Urology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases of the female and male urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). This branch of medicine also deals with male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis).

Urology has a number of sub-disciplines, including:

• Endourology – this sub-discipline of urology deals with the closed manipulation of the urinary tract. It includes all minimally invasive urologic surgical procedures, such as prostate surgery and stone removal surgery.
• Urologic oncology – this focuses on the treatment of malignant genitourinary diseases, such as cancer of the bladder, prostate, kidney, ureters, adrenal glands, testicles, or penis.
• Neurourology – this deals with the treatment of conditions involving the nervous control of the genitourinary system or abnormal urination.
• Pediatric urology – this focuses on urologic disorders in children, such as congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary tract, cryptorchidism (undescended testes), underdeveloped genitalia, enuresis, and vesicoureteral reflux.
• Andrology – this deals with disorders of the male reproductive system, such as ejaculatory disorders, erectile dysfunction, vasectomy reversal, and infertility.
• Reconstructive urology – this is a highly specialized field of male urology that deals with the reconstruction of both the structure and function of the genitourinary tract.
• Female urology – this deals with conditions of a woman’s reproductive and urinary tract, such as pelvic organ prolapse, overactive bladder, and urinary incontinence.

Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists. Urologists can diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary tract in both women and men, as well as diagnosing and treating any problems in men’s reproductive tract. In some cases, urologists may also perform surgery. In the case of certain conditions, urologists may need to work in conjunction with medical professionals who specializes in other fields, such as oncologist, radiotherapists, nephrologist, and gynecologist.

Urologists can treat the following conditions:

In men:

• Prostate gland enlargement
• Cancers of the penis, bladder, testicles, kidneys, and adrenal and prostate glands
• Erectile dysfunction
• Infertility
• Kidney diseases
• Kidney stones
• Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome
• Prostatitis
• Varicoceles, or enlarged veins in the scrotum
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

In women:

• Cancer of the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands
• Bladder prolapse, or a condition in which the bladder drops into the vagina
• Kidney stones
• Interstitial cystitis
• Overactive bladder
• Urinary incontinence
• UTIs

In children:

• Blockages and other problems with the urinary tract structure
• Bed-wetting
• Undescended testicles

What does Urology Involve?

During your first appointment, your urologist may ask you questions about your health history, any medicines you take, and your current symptoms. Your urologist may do a physical exam that includes a rectal and genital exam. They may also do some tests, such as:

• Imaging tests, such as MRI scans, CT scans, or ultrasound to help them locate the problem.
• A urine test to check for bacteria or other signs of disease.
• A cystoscope (a long, thin tube with a camera on its end) to see inside the urinary tract and take a sample of tissue for testing.
• A biopsy to check for cancer and other disorders.
• Urodynamic testing to check how fast the urine leaves your body, how much pressure there is in your bladder, and how much urine remains in your bladder after urinating.

After your urologist makes a diagnosis, the treatment will depend on your specific condition. It may include the use of medications and surgery.

Types of medication include:

• Hormone treatment for prostate cancer
• Antibiotics for infections
• Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
• Drugs that act on the smooth muscle of the bladder to help reduce urinary incontinence.

Some of the most common types of surgery include:

• A cystectomy, which is a procedure to remove the bladder. This procedure is used to treat cancer.
• A kidney transplant, which involves replacing a damaged or diseased kidney with a healthy one.
• Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, which is used to break up kidney stones so they can be removed more easily.
• A repair of damage to the urinary tract due to injury.
• A procedure to open a blockage.
• A repair of urinary organs that are not well-formed.
• A prostatectomy, which is used to remove all or part of the prostate gland. This procedure is performed to treat prostate cancer.
• Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate, which removes excess tissue from an enlarged prostate.
• Transurethral resection of the prostate, which involves the removal of excess tissue from an enlarged prostate.
• A sling procedure, which uses strips of mesh in order to support the urethra and keep it closed. This procedure can treat urinary incontinence.
• A ureteroscopy, which involves the removal of stones in the kidneys and ureter using a scope.
• A vasectomy, which is a procedure to cut and tie the vas deferens, or the tubes that carry sperm. This is done to prevent pregnancy.
• A nephrectomy, which involves removing a kidney to treat cancer.

The surgery can be performed in one of two ways: open through a large incision, laparoscopically through several tiny incisions. Both methods are usually performed under general anesthesia. In some cases, local anesthetic may be used instead.

How Long Should I Stay in Dubai?

Depending on the procedure you will have, you may be able to leave the hospital on the same day or you will have to stay for up to 5 days. In general, it is highly advisable that you stay in Dubai for several days following your procedure for initial recovery and to attend scheduled follow-up checkups. For surgical procedures, you may need to stay in the country for at least 10 to 14 days.

What's the Recovery Time?

The recovery time varies, depending on the procedure you have, the reason why you need the procedure, and your overall health. For surgical procedures, it may take about one to six weeks until you can go back to your full activity. For non-surgical procedures, you may be allowed to go back to your normal routine within several days. Your urologist will give you a detailed recovery timeline, which includes the time you can go back to work, normal activity, and strenuous activities, such as exercise and heavy lifting.

What About Aftercare?

Your urologist will give you a set of instructions for your aftercare. The instruction may include a diet plan, exercise, restrictions, and medication to take, and wound care. It is important that you follow every instruction closely. After surgery, you will be encouraged to do some light exercise, such as walking, to help your healing process. You may also need to eat easily digestible food until you are recovered.

Depending on your specific condition, you may need to attend regular checkups following your treatment. For instance, if you had cancer treatment, your doctor will suggest you attend a checkup once or twice a year to ensure that cancer has not come back.

What's the Success Rate?

The field of urology is at the forefront of research and innovation. Due to its constant advancement, the procedures are becoming more effective and safer. Each urological treatment is also known to offer high success rates. However, any procedure comes with risks, such as infection, bleeding, and damage to nearby organs. Therefore, it is important that you choose a skilled and experienced urologist.

Are there Alternatives to Urology?

If you have any injury or disease in your urinary tract and/or reproductive organ (for men), there is no other alternative besides visiting a urology department. However, if your disease is found to be caused by other problems, the doctor will refer you to a relevant doctor.

Urology in and around Dubai

About Dubai

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the UAE and it is the second largest in size and has the biggest population of over 3 million people. The population of the UAE lives there tax-free as there is no VAT on food or consumer goods, and it is certainly one of the reasons why a large number of expats are attracted to this country and 84% of the population are non-nationals. Dubai prides itself upon the fact that it is one of the swiftest growing economies in the world. The tourism industry is one of the principal strategies of the Dubai government to keep foreign cash flowing into Dubai.

The private sector has been building state of the art facilities and also caters to medical tourism. Dubai has two healthcare free economic zone for hospitals and medical facilities. The industry consists of 35,000 medical professionals from 110 nationalities. There is a 12-year master plan, which includes adding 40 healthcare and three new hospitals.

The country aims to provide a 1000-bed medical care unit catering to inpatients and outpatients, with five-star hotel facilities and varied mélange of services. By the year 2020 Dubai Health Authority (DHA) plans to attract 500,000 annual international medical tourists to the city, 

Hospitals such as the NMC Specialty Hospital, Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Medicare Hospital, Aster Hospital are some of the more popular ones in the City. Expats from all over the world turn to Dubai for solutions to address ailments from non-invasive beauty treatments to surgeries, depression, and mood disorder treatments. The most popular treatments are Orthopaedics, Dermatology and Ophthalmology, Plastic surgery, and Aesthetic Practices and surgeries. It is also attracting Medical tourism from around the world due to:

• Dubai follows strict quality protocols and has specialists from all over the world working in its hospitals.
• The best medical technology is available and is on par with any world-class facility.
• The government and other stakeholders are working continuously to establish a world-class healthcare system in Dubai.
• Large investments from the government and private sector in the medical tourism industry.

Popular Areas in Dubai

Dubai is a paradise for shoppers. You can shop in the souks that are dotted around the city or visit the stylish shopping malls. From spices to the latest high street fashion and gold jewelry, you can buy everything at reasonable prices including electronic gadgets as the Vat rate is only 5%.

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and Burj Al Arab in Dubai which is the most luxurious hotel in the world is located in this building. You can buy a ticket to its observation deck located on the 124th floor from where you can see the panoramic view of the city. If you want to experience the tradition and history of the city, there are numerous museums to visit. If you love adventure, desert safaris will take you on some amazing activities that include dune bashing, camel rides, sand boarding and you will get to taste the local cuisine in the middle of the desert.

IMG Worlds of Adventure is the largest indoor theme park in the world. The IMG Worlds of Adventure is very big and is the size of 28 football fields. High and fast roller coasters, fine dining, and retail outlets are all in abundance within this theme park.

Weather and Climate in Dubai

Dubai, being a desert city, is hot for most of the year. August is the hottest month and January is the coldest one. The temperatures can range between 24 °C in winter to 45 °C in summer and humidity is very high in Summer. Dubai winters are from November to April and this is the best time to visit Dubai. 

Getting around in Dubai

Dubai has one of the busiest airports in the word and the airport is an important transit hub between Asia and Europe. Most of the airlines that fly to Asia, connect through Dubai airport that is known for its luxury and has many concourses and terminals and there are interconnecting metro trains between the terminals.

Dubai is famous for establishing the first metro service in the entire Arabian region and it has been investing and expanding the train network over the past few decades.

Port Jebel Ali is the biggest man-made harbor in the world and is a major point of entry to the country. Port Rashid is Dubai’s second major port. Apart from the major ports, it also has local boats and ferries that help people travel between different parts of the city. It has an excellent road network that connects to all the other Emirati cities. As Sharjah is the nearest Emirati city to Dubai, it has good public bus service connections to Sharjah. There are numerous taxi services and buses with reasonable fares, available for tourists to commute around the city.

Tourist Visas in Dubai

You can get a non-extendable visit visa or a tourist visa for 30 days or 90 days. Many job seekers use visitor visas to find work and convert their visitor visa to a work visa during their stay. Citizens of GCC countries and the European Union, USA, and the UK, Canada, Russia, China, Australia, and many other countries can get a visa on arrival. However, all passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency- AED or Arab Emirate Dirham (Dhs) is the local currency.
2. Money & Payments -You can exchange money in numerous money exchangers. Major currencies that are traded in Dubai are Pounds, Euros, Australian and American Dollars. Most places accept credit cards and international debit cards for payments, Yet, it is better you carry some local currency with you while visiting small shops or traveling in taxis. ATMs are also available from where you can withdraw the local currency. In fact, many ATMs are free in Dubai and do not incur any banking charges.
3. Tipping is not compulsory, but it is customary to tip in restaurants and hotels. Tipping anywhere between 10 and 15% of your bill is about right. As taxis are cheap, people even tip the drivers for good service.
4. Arabic is the official language and English is the most spoken language here. People from Asian countries living in Dubai speak Hindi, Urdu, Persian.
5. The official religion of the country is Islam. It is, however, the most liberal city in the Gulf region. You must be careful to respect the local traditions and wear simple conservative clothes.
6. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are two major religious holidays. Islamic New Year, Prophet’s birthday, UAE’s national day, and Commemoration Day are the other significant holidays. The religious festivals are dependent on the sightings of the moon and may occur on different days every year.