Gastroenterologist in Dubai: a GMS guide by Elena Kasimtseva

Elena Kasimtseva — GP, gastroenterologist, Medical Director of GMS Clinic

I'm Elena Kasimtseva, GP, gastroenterologist, Medical Director of GMS Clinic and medical director of GMS Clinic. Many of the complaints I see have less to do with a "bad stomach" and more to do with life in Dubai: the heat, food delivery, frequent flights and relocation.

Gut infections: travel, delivery and heat

Dubai is a city people constantly fly in and out of. Travelers' diarrhea is common on trips: according to the CDC, 30% to 70% of travelers get it over a two-week period, depending on destination and season. Bacteria cause 75% to 90% of cases, most often E. coli.

At home the risk is different: food that sits warm for too long. US food safety agencies advise never leaving perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours, or more than one hour when it is above 32 °C. In a Dubai summer that happens easily: the order spends half an hour in the heat, then sits on the table. What helps:

• put delivery leftovers in the fridge right away, not "after the movie";
• don't take mayonnaise salads, fish or dairy to the beach or leave them in the car;
• when traveling, drink only sealed bottled water and wash your hands before eating.

Most gut infections clear up on their own; the key is drinking enough fluids. Blood in the stool, high fever or signs of dehydration (little urine, weakness, dizziness) are reasons to seek medical care right away. Diarrhea that lasts more than two weeks needs a cause found: the CDC notes that prolonged diarrhea after travel points more often to protozoa. Before a long trip, you can discuss vaccines for your route; the clinic has hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines (vaccinations at GMS).

Heat, water and constipation

Constipation is one of the most frequent complaints among people who have just moved here. NIDDK lists not drinking enough fluids, too little fiber, low physical activity, travel and changes in diet among its causes, and in the first months in Dubai they all tend to happen at once. In summer we lose more water through sweat than we notice, and we spend a lot of time in the car and the office.

Start simple: water spread across the day rather than a liter in the evening, vegetables, legumes and whole grains every day, and walking, even in a mall when it is too hot outside. If you still have fewer than three bowel movements a week despite these steps, or any of the warning signs below appear, come in for a visit.

H. pylori: how common is it in the UAE

National data are limited. In a 2019 study of 350 healthy UAE residents without symptoms, 41% tested positive for H. pylori (stool antigen test). Infection was more common among people living in crowded conditions, three or more per room, and among those with a family history of peptic ulcer.

That doesn't mean everyone needs a test. Testing is indicated with an ulcer, uninvestigated dyspepsia, stomach cancer in a close relative or unexplained anemia. Active infection is confirmed by a breath test; a blood antibody test is not suitable for this. Indications and preparation are covered in detail in the article "Helicobacter pylori: who should be tested". The urea breath test at GMS costs AED 350.

The liver: fatty liver disease, diabetes and weight

Fatty liver disease (MASLD, formerly called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) usually causes no symptoms, so it is found by chance on an ultrasound or in blood tests. In the UAE, the high rates of diabetes and excess weight set the stage for it: according to the IDF, 20.7% of adults had diabetes in 2024 (age-standardized), and about 64% of cases were undiagnosed.

Data on 94,754 adults seen at Dubai Academic Health Corporation facilities in 2018–2023 showed that almost half (49.0%) had risk factors for MASLD. In 18.2%, the estimated risk of advanced liver fibrosis on the FIB-4 score was moderate or high.

The 2024 EASL–EASD–EASO European guidelines suggest a stepwise check: with type 2 diabetes, obesity plus another metabolic risk factor, or raised liver enzymes, the FIB-4 score is calculated first from a routine blood test, then liver stiffness is measured if needed. We do this on site: an abdomen ultrasound costs AED 1,200 and liver ultrasound elastography AED 1,000. What a "fatty liver" finding on ultrasound means is explained in detail by our ultrasound doctor Svetlana Kaliadina in the article "Fatty liver disease".

Colorectal cancer screening: in Dubai, from 40

This is where Dubai differs from many countries. The 2024 DHA guideline advises people aged 40 to 75 at average risk to have a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years or a colonoscopy every 10 years. You can do the FIT with us for AED 250. In the US, the USPSTF recommends starting at 45. If a close relative has had colorectal cancer, screening starts earlier, and your doctor will set the timing.

At the visit we choose the method that fits your situation. If you need a colonoscopy or gastroscopy, it is performed at a partner hospital in my presence. The GMS medical concierge handles booking, paperwork and translation, and we go over the results and next steps back at the clinic.

Heartburn, Ramadan and late dinners

Heartburn in Dubai is often less about "acidity" and more about routine: a late dinner after work, brunches, coffee on an empty stomach. During Ramadan, eating patterns change even more. The same rules apply: don't lie down right after iftar or suhoor, and don't overeat at one sitting. If you take reflux medication, don't change how you take it during the fast on your own; discuss it with your doctor. What else helps is covered in the article "Heartburn and reflux".

Relocation, stress and the gut

A new country, a new job, schools, visas: in the first year many people develop bloating, abdominal pain and irregular bowel habits. Sometimes this is irritable bowel syndrome, a real disorder of the gut–brain axis diagnosed with the Rome criteria, not "just nerves". It has its own article: "Irritable bowel syndrome". If constant tiredness comes along with gut symptoms, see the article on sensible tests for fatigue.

When not to put off a visit

Some signs should not be blamed on the climate or stress:

• blood in the stool or black stool;
• unexplained weight loss;
• difficulty swallowing or repeated vomiting;
• iron deficiency anemia;
• symptoms that wake you at night;
• new symptoms after age 50, or colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease in the family.

Severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood or heavy bleeding are reasons to seek emergency care right away.

How a gastroenterology visit works at GMS

A gastroenterologist consultation costs AED 750, in English or Russian. At the first visit I ask in detail about diet, travel, medications and family history. This takes time, and we have it. I order tests based on your situation, not a panel "for everything". Much of it can be done the same day at the clinic:

• urea breath test for H. pylori, AED 350;
• stool calprotectin (helps tell bowel inflammation from functional disorders), AED 350;
• blood tests, abdomen ultrasound and liver elastography.

If a test has to be done in hospital, the GMS medical concierge organizes the visit, and your care continues with us. Children with tummy problems are seen by Evgeniya Loik, GP, pediatrician, gastroenterologist, nutritionist; see the pediatric gastroenterology page. More about the department is on the gastroenterology page, and about insurance and direct billing in the insurance section.

You can book with me through the form on the website or on WhatsApp: doctor's page.

Sources

• Khoder G. et al. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and Its Associated Factors among Healthy Asymptomatic Residents in the United Arab Emirates. Pathogens (2019)
• Abdelgadir E. et al. Doubling the diagnostic rate of at-risk MASH — leave no one behind (letter; Dubai Academic Health Corporation data). Lancet Regional Health – Europe (2025)
• EASL–EASD–EASO. Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of MASLD. Journal of Hepatology (2024)
• International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas: United Arab Emirates (2025)
• Dubai Health Authority. Dubai Periodic Health Screening Guideline (2024)
• USPSTF. Colorectal Cancer: Screening (2021)
• CDC. Yellow Book: Travelers' Diarrhea (2026)
• FoodSafety.gov (USDA, FDA, CDC). 4 Steps to Food Safety (2023)
• NIDDK. Symptoms & Causes of Constipation (2026)
• American College of Gastroenterology. Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (2021)

FAQ

At what age should I be screened for colorectal cancer in Dubai?

The 2024 DHA guideline says from 40: people aged 40 to 75 at average risk are advised to have a FIT stool test every two years or a colonoscopy every 10 years. That is earlier than in the US, where the USPSTF recommends starting at 45. If a close relative has had colorectal cancer, screening starts even earlier, and your doctor will set the timing.

How common is H. pylori in the UAE?

In a 2019 study, H. pylori was found in 41% of 350 healthy UAE residents without symptoms. Infection was more common with crowded living conditions and a family history of peptic ulcer. Not everyone needs a test: it is indicated with an ulcer, uninvestigated dyspepsia, stomach cancer in a relative or unexplained anemia.

Should I have my liver checked if nothing hurts?

Fatty liver disease usually causes no symptoms. The 2024 European guidelines advise checking people with type 2 diabetes, obesity plus another metabolic risk factor, or raised liver enzymes: first the FIB-4 score from a blood test, then elastography if needed. Liver ultrasound elastography at GMS costs AED 1,000.

Does GMS offer gastroscopy and colonoscopy?

Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are performed at partner hospitals in the presence of our gastroenterologist Elena Kasimtseva. The GMS medical concierge handles booking, paperwork and translation, and the results and treatment plan are discussed at a follow-up visit at the clinic.

How much does a gastroenterologist visit cost at GMS Clinic?

A gastroenterologist consultation costs AED 750, in English or Russian. At the clinic you can also have an H. pylori breath test (AED 350), stool calprotectin (AED 350), blood tests and an abdomen ultrasound.

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.

Book an appointment