Dear readers, welcome to my new blog! My name is Dr. Sacha Sidani, and I’m a gastroenterologist who has been treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for more than 14 years. I started my career in Canada, where I was born and raised. Then, like many of you, I decided to move to Dubai and experience this vibrant and exciting city.
I’ve created this blog to provide practical advice, expert information, and supportive resources for anyone living with IBS specifically in Dubai or anywhere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Living with IBS can be challenging, especially when trying to balance the high demands of daily life with symptoms that often feel unpredictable. My goal is to create a space where you can find reliable, evidence-based information, learn about the latest treatment options, and discover tips for managing IBS tailored to the unique lifestyle and cultural experiences of living in the UAE.
Having spent years helping patients with IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions, I’ve come to understand that every individual’s journey is different. IBS isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about improving quality of life, finding the right treatments, and building a strong foundation for long-term wellness.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, navigating treatment options, or simply seeking community and understanding, this blog is here to guide and support you. Together, we’ll explore everything from dietary adjustments and stress management to the role of the gut microbiome in IBS and the latest research in gastroenterology.
I look forward to sharing my knowledge and hearing from you as we embark on this journey toward better digestive health, one step at a time. But please be a little bit patient, as IBS is so vast that we cannot cover everything in one session! I will do my best to provide new information every week.
The first question that comes to mind, and I don’t blame you, is why in the world should you read my content? I don’t know the exact number, but I believe there are hundreds of gastroenterologists in the UAE and they are all able to treat IBS. However, for me, IBS is my lifelong professional passion. It is such a complex and diverse syndrome that I decided to dedicate a good portion of my career to it. I am aware that writing a blog about IBS doesn’t make me an expert. However, I have contributed to IBS patient care in many other ways. I had a dedicated IBS clinic in Canada. I also did research and published scientific papers aimed at finding the causes and evaluating new treatments.
Finally, I participated in writing clinical guidelines designed for gastroenterologists, helping them diagnosing and treating IBS.
One more wonderful aspect of treating IBS, it keeps me busy! We will discuss this in one portion of my blog, but it is one of the most common medical conditions on Earth, wherever you are located. Look around you in the office, on the street, in the mall, on the beach, and know that at least 1 out of 10 people around you have IBS. For this reason, when I made the big move from Canada to the UAE, I knew that I would still have a busy schedule dealing with IBS in the UAE.
I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada by Lebanese-Canadian parents. I lived most of my life in Montreal but enjoyed traveling extensively. After briefly relinquishing a career as an airline pilot, I rather decided to become a doctor. For this matter, my ENT surgeon father served as a role model for me. His passion for medicine and serving others really inspired me.
I went to medical school at the University of Montreal and then did my internal medicine and gastroenterology training at the same university. I got my Gastroenterologist diploma in 2013. I had a few mentors in Montreal, as some of my professors there were pioneers of IBS research. After I decided I wanted to develop my expertise in treating IBS, I pursued additional post-doctoral training at the Farncombe Institute at McMaster University, a leading clinical and research center in Hamilton, Canada. There I worked for three years under the supervision of world experts and participated in multiple research projects, from bench to bedside. My special interest was in the role of the gut microbiome in IBS and other so-called gut-brain axis disorders.
I came back in 2016 to work as an Adjunct Professor of Medicine and consultant gastroenterologist at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal (CHUM), which is one of the largest academic hospitals in Canada. I spent my professional time there treating patients using the latest scientific advancements, teaching my specialty to numerous students, interns and residents and conducting more scientific research.
I moved to Dubai in 2024, guided firstly by love, as I met my wife here, and secondly by the thriving, exciting and promising healthcare sector here.
I have my private gastroenterology practice in Dubai and I continue to treat patients with all GI disorders. I have a deep passion for uncovering what causes IBS. One area that fascinates me is the role of gut micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeasts, known as the gut microbiota, which likely holds a crucial key to understanding IBS. I’m dedicated to staying at the forefront of research and applying the latest discoveries to improve how we manage IBS every day. Let’s embark on this journey together, with the hope of one day putting an end to this challenging condition.
The short answer is NOT REALLY. However Dubai and the UAE are such a special place that there are unique considerations to managing the syndrome here. As I am a relatively new resident here, I will share my thoughts on the advantages and challenges dealing with IBS in the UAE.
Most importantly, we must understand that IBS is a global problem. A couple of studies evaluated the occurrence of IBS in more than 35 countries worldwide. They found that there is a wide variation in the presence of IBS in various countries. Some of the most affected countries include the USA, Canada, Peru, Brazil, Russia, China and Australia. Notably, France and Kazakhstan seem less affected. However, overall, it is estimated that 10 to 15 % of the world population has IBS. Furthermore, the consequences of IBS, in terms of cost and reduced quality of life, are similar across the globe.
The proportion of UAE residents affected by IBS has not been reported so far. However, there is an interesting recent report that evaluated the occurrence of
IBS in medical students at the University of Sharjah. The researchers found that
17% of these future doctors were affected by IBS. Perhaps some of them would be interested in doing an internship in my clinic! In this study, IBS was more frequent in students who had higher anxiety, stress and who smoked. Although further studies are needed to know the exact impact of IBS in the UAE, my humble hypothesis would be that it is similar to the rest of the world. At least, this is what I am seein
in my daily practice.
In the UAE, you can find people from almost every country on Earth, so this
diversity adds to the diversity of IBS sufferers in the country. Many expats who
come here carry with them IBS from their original country. Moreover, IBS is known
to affect more younger persons, especially young women. As we know, the population of UAE is greatly influenced by the presence of young foreign workforce, who constitute people that are more vulnerable to the development of IBS.
Some factors specific to the UAE might impact IBS here, positively or negatively.
For example, we know that the environment may impact IBS. Let’s face it, the environment here is unique and during the summer months can be quite difficult
to handle. The heat and humidity can exacerbate some IBS symptoms. On the
other hand, sunshine is plentiful here and may have a positive impact on reducing symptoms. Bright sunlight positively affects mood and reduces depression and anxiety, as well as increases vitamin D in the body. This is true provided your skin
is mildly exposed to sunlight regularly. There is no need to seek a deep tan, which has a lot of negative effects! We know that vitamin D reduces inflammation and there is some moderate evidence that it may reduce IBS symptoms and improve quality of life.
Diet is another factor that greatly influences IBS symptoms, I think most people
who suffer from the syndrome will agree! Dietary habits are greatly variable between individuals. However, we know that many of us here tend to skip breakfast and eat late at night, it is part of the lifestyle. While these habits are sometimes necessary to comply with the high demands of daily life, your IBS will not like it. Spicy food and foods high in fermentable components (called FODMAPs), such as local favorites hummus, falafel, as well as onions and garlic, are all known to cause flares in IBS. Another lifestyle factor to consider is stress. It is widely recognized that stress is strongly associated with IBS, I will explain why in another blog post. With some willpower, it is always possible to make some changes in dietary habits and lifestyle, all the while continuing to enjoy life here with less IBS.
One more very important factor to consider though is the fact that in Dubai and in the rest of the UAE, you have many opportunities to treat IBS if you have it. Luckily, the country has some of the best doctors in the world and the healthcare system is top notch. In addition, you can find all the necessary treatments and medications
for IBS, with a few exceptions that we will discuss in further blog posts. Also, you can find most additional non-medical interventions that are scientifically known to alleviate symptoms of IBS, including diet therapies, acupuncture, among others. Unfortunately, you can also find a significant amount of unproven and non-beneficial therapies that are advertised, so it is important that you stay well informed about what is safe and effective when dealing with IBS. I do have an open mind, and I do believe that certain holistic approaches can be used. Most importantly, these approaches should be used in conjunction with medical care, as long as they are safe and potentially effective.
I therefore invite you to follow my blog posts about living with IBS in Dubai and
the rest of the UAE. I will try to tackle relevant and important factors related to IBS, while putting them in the specific context of the UAE, my new home. If you wish to inquire about a specific issue related to IBS, or if you want to suggest a topic for
this blog or even if you would like to collaborate, please reach out at the following
email address: drsachaibs@gmail.com.
See you soon!
Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards a healthier you.