An Expat Talks about What is Was Like Having a Baby in Dubai, UAE

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Dubai

How recently did you give birth in the country that you are reporting on?

In 2005

Describe your experience giving birth there. What type of facility did you go to? What (if any) type of pain management did you use? How long did you stay in the hospital? Was it a positive experience? Etc...

You can choose from the government-run hospitals, such as Al Wasl, which are cheaper than the private hospitals, but many do not allow men into the labour rooms (they are allowed in for final delivery only). Al Wasl has an excellent reputation in terms of quality of healthcare, but is far from providing any frills and luxury.

The best and most established private hospitals are Americal Hospital and Welcare Hospital. Be aware that American has a tendency to push women into Caesarians although it provides a very luxurious service complete with champagne dinner for the new parents.

Welcare is not quite as luxurious but the care is very good; mainly British/Indian doctors and nurses.

There are also a handful of new hospitals cropping up such as MedCare in Jumeirah, which have yet to establish a track record, but have super facilities.

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How did you choose your doctor, midwife or other type of medical professional?

I chose my doctor at Welcare on recommendation from a friend - this is a good way to do it. Ask around. The general standard of care is very good in most places.

You can choose an independent gynae/obstetrician from any clinic, or you can choose one who works from one of the hospitals. The advantage of the latter is that the private hospitals tend to offer 'packages' that include all pre-natal appointments and scans and tests, and 'birth packages' that include the stay in hospital and routine fees, and this works out cheaper than using an independent obstetrician - for him, you have to pay his fees PLUS the hospital fees for giving birth.

NOTE: You can only give birth in a hospital in Dubai, nowhere else.

If you were to have another child in this country, would you do anything differently in terms of preparation and/or the delivery?

I would do the same as I did: I would choose an obstetrician who worked from one of the top hospitals and pay for a 'package'.

If a friend of yours living in the same country were expecting a baby, what advice would you give her?

Visit all the hospitals to see what you think; ask around - see what people have experienced, especially with the new hospitals.

If you don't mind 'roughing it' a bit, go to Al Wasl as it has the best equipment for SCBU and premature babies, and it is cheaper than the big international hospitals.