Travelling to Doha for knee care from the GCC

Who this guide is for

This guide is for people living in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain or Oman who are considering travelling to Doha to have a knee problem assessed or treated. Dr. Pablo Gelber practises only at Aman Hospital in Doha, so every consultation, operation and follow-up visit with him takes place there, in the Old Airport area of Doha.

Some patients come for a first opinion, some for a second opinion on surgery already recommended at home, and some for an operation. Each needs a slightly different plan, and the steps below help you prepare.

Before you travel

Contact the clinic by phone or WhatsApp on +974 4400 4400, or by email at qatar@drgelber.com, to arrange an appointment and ask what to send in advance. Sharing your MRI or X-ray reports beforehand can help the team suggest how long to plan for, but a treatment decision is only made after you have been examined in Doha.

Check visa and entry requirements for your nationality with official Qatari government sources before booking, as these can change. If you hope to use health insurance, ask your insurer and Aman Hospital in advance whether treatment in Qatar is covered and what approvals are needed. Cost depends on the treatment, the length of stay and your cover, so ask Aman Hospital for the details that apply to you.

What to bring

• Your passport or the identity document you will use to enter Qatar, and any other documents required for entry.
• Previous MRI, CT or X-ray images on a disc or as a digital download, not only the written reports.
• Reports from earlier consultations, physiotherapy notes and operation notes if you have had knee surgery before.
• A list of all your medicines and doses, including blood thinners and diabetes medicines, and any allergies.
• Recent blood test results if you have diabetes, heart disease or another long-term condition.
• Insurance details, if you plan to use them.
• Comfortable loose trousers or shorts, flat shoes and, if you already use them, your brace or crutches.

If surgery is likely, plan for a family member or friend to travel with you, since you will need help with bags, transport and daily tasks for the first days.

How long to plan to stay in Doha

The time needed depends on what is planned, and these are general ranges only.

• Consultation only: often one to three days, allowing for imaging if your scans are out of date or not detailed enough.
• Knee arthroscopy: usually around a week from the consultation to being ready to travel home.
• Ligament reconstruction or meniscus repair: often around one to two weeks, to cover the operation, the first wound check and the start of physiotherapy.
• Knee replacement: commonly two to three weeks or longer, because the risk of blood clots is highest in the early weeks and walking needs to be safe first.

Your surgeon will advise on your own case, and it is wise to keep your return booking flexible in case recovery takes longer than expected.

Flying or driving home after surgery

Flights between Doha and other Gulf capitals are short compared with long-haul travel, but sitting still after surgery still increases the risk of blood clots. Ask your surgeon when it is safe to fly and whether you need a blood thinner or compression stockings for the journey.

Book an aisle seat, request wheelchair or assistance services through the airline in advance, and keep crutches, medicines and a copy of your discharge summary in your hand luggage. Some patients from Saudi Arabia travel home by road. A long car journey carries similar risks, so stop regularly to walk, keep the leg moving, and do not drive yourself until your surgeon says it is safe.

Seek urgent care for calf pain or swelling, chest pain or breathlessness during or after the journey.

Follow-up once you are home

Before you leave Doha, you should receive a written summary of the operation, your exercise programme, instructions for wound care and medicines, and a plan for stitches or clips to be removed. Arrange in advance a physiotherapist near home who can continue your rehabilitation, and share the summary with them and with your family doctor.

Return visits to Dr. Pablo Gelber take place at Aman Hospital in Doha. Many patients plan one or more trips back at key points in recovery, and the timing is agreed before you leave. If a problem arises at home, such as a fever, a red or leaking wound or a sudden increase in swelling, see a doctor locally straight away and then contact the clinic in Doha.