Dr Hanan El-Mileik is a highly experienced UK-trained Consultant Gastroenterologist, dual-certified by the Royal College of Surgeons in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She completed her specialist training across leading teaching hospitals in North and East London and served as a Consultant for 14 years at Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, where she also held significant leadership and teaching roles. Appointed as a Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians for Central and North East London, Dr El-Mileik relocated to Dubai towards the end of 2023. Her journey from Khartoum to London to Dubai reflects a career defined by clinical excellence, a lifelong passion for education, and a commitment to advancing gastroenterology services in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Dr El-Mileik is originally from Khartoum, Sudan and completed her undergraduate medical degree at the prestigious University of Khartoum, before moving to London in the early 1990s for specialist training.
- She is dual-certified by the Royal College of Surgeons in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, with subspecialty training in Luminal Gastroenterology, and completed her CCT in 2009.
- She served as a Consultant Gastroenterologist for 14 years at Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, including roles as Clinical Lead for Endoscopy and IBD and Head of Department for 7 years.
- She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education and was appointed Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians for Central and North East London.
- She currently works at two NMC Specialty Hospitals in Dubai, in Al Nahda and Dubai Investments Park (DIP), and is involved in teaching, mentorship, and clinical guideline development.
- She was approached by Allocation Assist in early 2023 and relocated to Dubai towards the end of that year, in part to provide greater support to family members displaced by the war in Sudan.
- NMC is developing a new comprehensive Digestive Disease Centre at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park, set to be one of the best in the UAE.
From Khartoum to London: Building a Career in Gastroenterology
Dr Hanan El-Mileik grew up in Khartoum, Sudan, where she lived with her grandparents and extended family while her parents were based in Saudi Arabia. She excelled at school and was accepted into the University of Khartoum, one of the most prestigious and competitive medical schools in the region. The medical course was modelled on the Cambridge University curriculum, a legacy of the colonial era following Sudanese independence. Her father agreed she could remain in Khartoum for her undergraduate studies on the condition that she travel to England afterwards for specialist training.
She arrived in London in the early 1990s. Despite an initial culture shock, she found England to be a welcoming and tolerant country. What followed was an exceptional period of clinical formation, training across some of the finest teaching hospitals in the capital, including the Royal London and Barts, University College Hospital, the Royal Free, and Queen’s Hospital. Her training spanned approximately 15 years, encompassing consultant training in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, as well as subspecialty training in Luminal Gastroenterology.
During this period, she developed expertise in diagnostic and interventional endoscopy, laser endoscopy therapy, and the treatment of a wide range of conditions including inflammatory bowel diseases. Her training required the completion of demanding procedural benchmarks, including 450 each of EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) and ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) procedures. Following the award of her CCT in 2009, she worked as a locum consultant in Basildon before being appointed as a Gastroenterology Consultant at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, in collaboration with the Royal London and Barts.
A Passion for Teaching, Mentoring and Medical Education
Alongside her clinical career, medical education has always been central to Dr El-Mileik’s professional identity. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education and became actively involved in training junior doctors throughout her career at the NHS. She also served as a Senior Committee Member of the North East Thames Region for the London Deanery, where she assessed and reviewed Senior Registrars and Trainees in Gastroenterology.
When asked what drives her passion for teaching and mentoring, she is unequivocal. For her, nothing is more satisfying than passing on the knowledge and experience accumulated over decades to the next generation, and watching them learn, grow, and develop. She acknowledges the debt she owes to the exceptional mentors who shaped her own career and regards it as a responsibility to offer the same guidance to others. As she puts it, you know you have become a truly great teacher when your students surpass you.
Leadership Roles at Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
Dr El-Mileik did not seek out management or leadership roles, rather, hospital management recognised her qualities and promoted her. She was appointed Clinical Lead for Endoscopy and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and subsequently became Head of Department, a position she held for seven years. She was also appointed Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians in London, a role that involved mentoring emerging Clinical Leads across different specialties and supporting consultants who were facing difficulties in the region.
She describes her leadership philosophy as one rooted in collaborative teamwork. She believes that when colleagues work together in a supportive environment, each person is able to reach their full potential, ultimately for the benefit of patients.
The Decision to Relocate to Dubai
The idea of moving to Dubai had been raised by a close friend from university who had been living and working there for 20 years. For many years, Dr El-Mileik was not interested, she was fulfilled in her NHS role and was caring for her mother, who was in poor health and living with her. After sadly losing her mother at the beginning of 2020, she began to consider a change, though the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made any move impossible at that time.
In early 2023, she received an unsolicited email informing her that she had been identified for her high profile in her specialty and inviting her to consider relocating to Dubai. After receiving a second and then a third email, she investigated its legitimacy and, in February 2023, called the number for Allocation Assist. She found the team extremely helpful and reassuring, and learned that a hospital in Dubai was specifically seeking a highly qualified and experienced female Gastroenterology Consultant.
When the war broke out in Sudan on 9th April 2023, her family, like many Sudanese families, came together to support relatives who had to leave everything behind in Khartoum, their homes, jobs, and studies, almost overnight. The prospect of earning a tax-free salary in the UAE meant she would be in a significantly stronger position to provide financial support to displaced family members starting over in new countries. The quality of life Dubai offers, combined with its excellent travel connections to other parts of the world, made the decision clear.
Settling into Dubai and Overcoming Challenges
As with any international relocation, there was an adjustment period. Dr El-Mileik credits the Allocation Assist team with making the transition considerably smoother, providing the practical support and advice needed at each stage. She also found that connections made through the Allocation Assist network, alongside colleagues she met at work, gave her an immediate sense of community on arrival.
The principal professional challenge she encountered was adapting from the NHS to an insurance-based healthcare system. In particular, she needed to familiarise herself with the DRG (Diagnosis-Related Group) classification system used for medical insurance and the process of applying for pre-approvals. While this introduced additional administrative steps, she has not allowed it to influence her clinical decision-making. Her approach remains unchanged: she advocates firmly for her patients, does not order unnecessary tests or procedures, but is persistent in ensuring that patients receive the treatment they need. She has found that honesty and trust-building with patients leads naturally to both returning patients and personal recommendations.
Clinical Work, Teaching and Leadership at NMC Dubai
Dr El-Mileik currently works across two NMC Specialty Hospitals in Dubai, in Al Nahda and Dubai Investments Park (DIP). Her clinical work has been rewarding, and she has quickly taken on teaching and leadership responsibilities in parallel. She sits on the committee for developing clinical guidelines for the hospital, continues her mentorship and teaching of postgraduate doctors, and is involved in designing and delivering Continuing Medical Education (CME) initiatives for staff. The team regularly shares and discusses complex and interesting cases as part of a culture of ongoing learning and clinical improvement.
A Different Patient Profile
The patient mix in Dubai differs notably from that of the NHS. Due to the high expatriate population, drawn from many different countries, patients are generally younger, with relatively few past retirement age. As a result, she sees fewer of the GI cancers that are more prevalent in older populations. Instead, her caseload reflects a higher proportion of lifestyle-related conditions associated with stress, the demands of competitive work environments, shift work, and poor dietary habits.
She also sees patients from a very broad range of nationalities and backgrounds. Notably, in the Middle East context, there is significant demand among female patients, both Arabic and European, who specifically request a female Gastroenterologist. She points out that, globally including in the UK, a lower proportion of female doctors specialise in Gastroenterology, likely due to the demanding length of the training pathway and its implications for those who wish to start a family during that period.
Vision for the Future: A New Digestive Disease Centre
Looking ahead, Dr El-Mileik is excited about the expansion plans underway at NMC. A new bowel cancer screening service is due to be launched imminently. More significantly, NMC is in the process of establishing a comprehensive Digestive Disease Centre at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park. The centre will offer a full range of services including endoscopy, colonoscopy, upper and lower GI cancer surgery, laser endoscopy therapy, treatment for eating disorders, bariatric surgery, and other gastrointestinal surgeries.
The new centre is expected to be one of the best in the UAE, housed in a new building with state-of-the-art facilities. Its location is strategic: close to growing residential areas in Dubai and to Al Maktoum International Airport, which is planned for major expansion to eventually accommodate 260 million passengers per year. The centre is designed to serve as a regional hub for patients from the UAE as well as those travelling from countries across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent. Dr El-Mileik looks forward to contributing to this ambitious project and to continuing to build her life in Dubai.
How Allocation Assist Supports Doctors Relocating to the UAE
Relocating internationally as a medical professional involves navigating multiple stages, from licensing and job placement to integrating into a new healthcare system and settling your family. Allocation Assist streamlines this process by providing structured support at each phase.
Key Areas of Assistance
- Licensing and regulatory navigation, guiding physicians through credentialing requirements specific to the UAE.
- Role identification and placement, matching specialists with positions aligned to their clinical expertise and career objectives.
- Relocation and family logistics, coordinating practical elements to ensure a seamless move for the entire family.
- Ongoing support, keeping in touch with relocated doctors, following their experiences and achievements in their new roles.
For internationally trained specialists like Dr El-Mileik, this structured support ensures a smoother transition into the UAE healthcare system, allowing them to focus on delivering high-quality patient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dr Hanan El-Mileik’s background and qualifications?
Dr El-Mileik is originally from Khartoum, Sudan and completed her undergraduate training at the University of Khartoum. She moved to London in the early 1990s and trained across leading hospitals including the Royal London, Barts, University College Hospital, the Royal Free, and Queen’s Hospital. She is dual-certified by the Royal College of Surgeons in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and completed her CCT in 2009.
Where does Dr El-Mileik work in Dubai?
She works at two NMC Specialty Hospitals in Dubai, in Al Nahda and Dubai Investments Park (DIP), where she practises as a Consultant Gastroenterologist and is involved in teaching, mentorship, and clinical guideline development.
Why did Dr El-Mileik decide to relocate to Dubai?
Following a difficult personal period, including the loss of her mother and the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, she decided a new challenge would be beneficial. She was approached by Allocation Assist and accepted a position at NMC Specialty Hospital. The tax-free salary also allowed her to provide greater support to family members displaced by the conflict in Sudan.
What leadership roles has Dr El-Mileik held?
In the UK, she served as Clinical Lead for Endoscopy and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Head of Department for 7 years, and Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians in London. In Dubai, she sits on the committee for developing clinical guidelines at NMC and continues her CME and mentorship work.
What challenges did Dr El-Mileik face when relocating to Dubai?
The main challenge was adapting from the NHS to an insurance-based system, particularly learning the DRG classification system and managing pre-approval processes. She overcame this while maintaining her clinical standards and continuing to advocate for the best outcomes for her patients.
What new services are being developed at NMC?
NMC is launching a new bowel cancer screening service and developing a comprehensive Digestive Disease Centre at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park. The centre will offer endoscopy, colonoscopy, upper and lower GI cancer surgery, laser endoscopy therapy, treatment for eating disorders, bariatric surgery, and other gastrointestinal surgeries, and is set to be one of the best in the UAE.
How does the patient mix in Dubai differ from the UK?
Due to Dubai’s large expatriate workforce, patients are generally younger than in the UK. Dr El-Mileik sees fewer GI cancers associated with older age groups but more lifestyle-related conditions linked to stress, shift work, and poor dietary habits. She also sees higher demand from female patients, both Arabic and European, who specifically request a female Gastroenterologist.
