Urologist in Dubai: a GMS guide by Emil Aldyrakov

Emil Aldyrakov — GP, urologist-andrologist

Why men see a urologist in Dubai

A urologist-andrologist looks after the kidneys, bladder, prostate and male reproductive system. In Dubai the usual questions come with a local twist: it is hot and dry, people drink a lot of coffee and not much water, and the sauna or hammam is part of many gym routines. All of this affects the kidneys, the bladder and sperm production. For an overview of the department, see Urology.

Heat and water: stones and infections

The Gulf region is part of the so-called stone belt, where kidney stones are more common. In the heat you lose fluid without noticing, you pass less urine, and salts crystallize. A simple guide: your urine should stay pale throughout the day. I cover prevention, how much to drink and when renal colic needs urgent care in Kidney stones in a hot climate.

Heat also brings more urinary tract infections. A Journal of Urology study (2021) covering almost 400 US metropolitan areas found that infections in women rose with temperature: when the previous week averaged 25–30 °C, there were 20–30% more than when it averaged 5–7.5 °C. The authors suggest the same lack of fluid is involved: the urinary tract gets flushed less often. Men get these infections less often, so each one is worth showing to a doctor rather than treating with leftover antibiotics from the medicine cabinet. The UK's NICE guideline advises a urine culture for men before antibiotics are started. At the visit we run a urinalysis and, if needed, a kidney and bladder ultrasound.

Heat, saunas and sperm

The testicles sit outside the body for a reason: sperm production needs a temperature about 2–4 °C below core body temperature. Overheating directly disrupts it, and this has been shown in human studies, not just in animals.

One example is the work of Garolla's group in Italy (Human Reproduction, 2013). Ten healthy men used a Finnish sauna twice a week for 15 minutes at 80–90 °C for three months. By the end, sperm count and motility had dropped markedly and sperm DNA packaging had worsened, while hormone levels stayed the same. Six months after they stopped, every measure had fully recovered.

The practical takeaway for couples planning a baby: put the sauna, hammam and hot baths on hold well ahead, a few months before trying. If pregnancy does not happen, both partners need to be checked. For the man, that starts with a conversation and an exam with a urologist-andrologist. The key test is a semen analysis: the GMS medical concierge will book it at a partner laboratory and explain how to prepare, and Emil Aldyrakov will go through the result with you at the visit. A scrotal ultrasound and hormone tests are added if needed.

Coffee, energy drinks and nighttime trips to the bathroom

Caffeine and alcohol increase urine output and irritate the bladder. The European Association of Urology (EAU) lists moderating caffeine and alcohol, and drinking more earlier in the day, among the first steps for lower urinary tract symptoms. In Dubai, strong coffee and energy drinks help people through the heat and long workdays, and the bill arrives at night.

If you get up to urinate twice a night or more, it is worth looking into. The cause may be the prostate, but also drinking habits, blood sugar or sleep apnea. More on this in Getting up at night to urinate.

Testosterone: tests first

Testosterone is prescribed readily these days, and not always by the book. At ENDO 2026, Michigan Medicine researchers reported that of 200 men given their first testosterone prescription, only 12% had the recommended workup beforehand. That meant at least two low morning testosterone results, LH and/or FSH, and no contraindications.

Low testosterone is often secondary, driven by extra weight, short sleep and sleep apnea. The Endocrine Society (2018) recommends against starting therapy in men with untreated severe sleep apnea and in men planning to have children soon, because external testosterone suppresses the body's own sperm production. So if you snore and feel sleepy during the day, I will ask you to check your sleep first. How to take the test properly is covered in Testosterone: when to test.

A common fear is that testosterone "causes prostate cancer." In the TRAVERSE trial (JAMA Network Open, 2023), more than 5,000 men aged 45–80 with confirmed deficiency received testosterone or placebo. High-grade prostate cancer was rare and similar in both groups, 0.19% and 0.12%, a difference that was not statistically significant. But men with a PSA above 3.0 ng/mL were excluded, and PSA rose more on treatment. That is why PSA is checked before and during therapy.

PSA: what changed in 2026

On February 26, 2026, the American Urological Association and the Society of Urologic Oncology (AUA/SUO) updated their guideline on early detection of prostate cancer. The core principles stay the same:

• for average risk, a baseline PSA is offered at 45–50;
• for higher risk, from 40–45: men of African ancestry, carriers of certain mutations (such as BRCA2) and men with a strong family history;
• a newly raised PSA is repeated before deciding on further tests, an MRI or a biopsy;
• the interval for repeat screening is tailored to your PSA level and risk.

Screening is a shared decision between doctor and patient. At the visit we go through your risk and decide whether you need a PSA test and how often. If you need a prostate MRI, the GMS medical concierge arranges it at a partner hospital, and you go over the result with me. What else belongs in a checkup after 40 is covered in Checkup after 40.

Why men put off the visit, and how it works here

What usually holds men back is not cost but embarrassment, and the hope that it will go away. Many find it easier to talk about these things in their own language.

The visit starts with a conversation: what is bothering you and for how long, what medications you take, whether you have children or plan to. An exam happens only with your consent and with an explanation of why it is needed. Then, if needed, an ultrasound right in the room. You leave with a clear plan: what to test, what to change in your routine and when to come back. The report is written in English, and in Russian if you ask. How it works at GMS:

• the visit is one-on-one with the doctor, in English or Russian, and protected by medical confidentiality;
• a urologist consultation is AED 600;
• if an ultrasound is needed, it is done in the same visit: kidneys and bladder AED 1,100, scrotum AED 700;
• blood tests are taken at the clinic: the male hormone profile (total and free PSA, total and free testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index) is AED 900;
• if sleep apnea is suspected, overnight pulse oximetry is AED 700.

We accept insurance: direct billing through LGA, AP Companies and NOW Health International, and documents for reimbursement with other policies (details). The clinic is in Souk Al Manzil, Downtown Dubai, open daily 8:00–21:00.

If you need surgery

I operate on my own patients myself, at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital. The same doctor looks after you from the first consultation through surgery and follow-up. The GMS medical concierge handles the hospital booking, paperwork and translation.

When not to wait for a routine appointment

These are reasons to seek emergency care right away:

• sudden, severe pain in the scrotum or a testicle;
• renal colic with fever and chills;
• being unable to urinate with a full bladder.

Painless blood in the urine should not wait either: come in within the next few days.

You can book with Emil Aldyrakov on the urologist page, through the form on the site or on WhatsApp.

Sources

• AUA/SUO. Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Guideline, 2026 amendment (2026)
• AUA. AUA announces updates to the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Guideline (2026)
• Endocrine Society. Michigan Medicine study at ENDO 2026: evaluation before starting testosterone (2026)
• Bhasin S. et al. Prostate Safety Events During Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRAVERSE). JAMA Network Open (2023)
• Endocrine Society. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism (2018)
• Garolla A. et al. Seminal and molecular evidence that sauna exposure affects human spermatogenesis. Human Reproduction (2013)
• De Toni L. et al. Global warming and testis function: a challenging crosstalk in an equally challenging environmental scenario. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2023)
• Simmering J.E. et al. Warmer Weather and the Risk of Urinary Tract Infections in Women. Journal of Urology (2021)
• Aldaher H.S. et al. Evaluating the understanding about kidney stones among adults in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences (2021)
• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Kidney stone prevalence increases among UAE's youth (2017)
• NICE. Urinary tract infection (lower): antimicrobial prescribing, NG109 (2018)
• EAU. Management of Non-Neurogenic Male LUTS
• EAU. Urolithiasis Guidelines
• NHS. Testicle pain

FAQ

Does a man without symptoms need a urologist in Dubai?

From 40–45, yes, at least to talk about PSA: the AUA/SUO guideline offers a baseline PSA at 45–50 for average risk and at 40–45 for higher risk. Men planning children, using the sauna regularly or considering testosterone benefit from a visit at any age.

Does the sauna affect fertility?

Yes. In a 2013 study by Garolla and colleagues, men who used a Finnish sauna twice a week for 15 minutes over three months had a marked drop in sperm count and motility. Six months after stopping, the numbers had fully recovered. If you are planning a baby, it is best to stop the sauna a few months ahead.

My PSA came back high. What now?

Don't panic and don't start treatment straight away. The AUA/SUO guideline advises repeating the test first, because PSA can rise temporarily for many reasons. If the repeat confirms it, the urologist decides whether further tests, an MRI or a biopsy are needed.

Can I start testosterone without tests?

It is not a good idea. The diagnosis needs symptoms plus at least two low morning testosterone results, along with LH and/or FSH. In a Michigan Medicine study presented at ENDO 2026, only 12% of 200 men had this workup before starting therapy.

Is a visit to the GMS urologist confidential, and can it be in Russian?

Yes. The visit is one-on-one with the doctor, in English or Russian, and protected by medical confidentiality. A urologist consultation costs AED 600, and an ultrasound, if needed, is done during the same visit.

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

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