Skip to main content
+968 2458 379024/7 Emergency+968 2458 3600General enquiriesAl Khuwair, MuscatOpen in Maps
Insurance Support
Englishالعربية
Dr. Ali Al Shirawi

Dr. Ali Al Shirawi

Senior Consultant (Visiting) — Rheumatology

  • Inflammatory arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Osteoporosis
Call to book Dr. Ali Book Dr. Ali on WhatsApp
Experience
30+ years In medicine. 23 years as a consultant rheumatologist.
Languages
English, Arabic
Nationality
Oman
Profile

About Dr. Ali

Dr. Ali is a Senior Consultant Rheumatologist with more than 30 years in medicine, including 23 years as a consultant in rheumatology. He works at Muscat Private Hospital as a visiting consultant.

He is Senior Consultant Rheumatologist and Head of Rheumatology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, and is President of the Oman Society of Rheumatology.

Dr. Ali completed his undergraduate medical education in the United Kingdom and undertook his specialist training in rheumatology there. His practice covers the diagnosis and long-term management of rheumatic disease, including inflammatory arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, osteoporosis and connective tissue disorders.

He takes an individualised approach to treatment, recognising that rheumatic conditions are usually long-term and affect people differently — so that treatment plans are built around each patient’s disease activity, other medical conditions and daily life.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Ali is actively involved in teaching and mentoring medical students and residents.

What we treat

Conditions Treated

  • Inflammatory Arthritis

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Psoriatic arthritis

  • Ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis

  • Reactive arthritis

  • Connective Tissue Disease

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Sjögren’s syndrome

  • Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

  • Inflammatory muscle disease (myositis)

  • Antiphospholipid syndrome

  • Vasculitis and Related Conditions

  • Giant cell arteritis

  • Polymyalgia rheumatica

  • Systemic vasculitis

  • Behçet disease

  • Crystal Arthritis

  • Gout

  • Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis (pseudogout)

  • Bone Health

  • Osteoporosis and reduced bone density

  • Fragility fractures and fracture risk assessment

  • Degenerative and Soft Tissue Conditions

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Tendinitis and bursitis

  • Chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia

  • Inflammatory back pain

Care offered

Procedures & Services

  • Assessment and Diagnosis

  • Specialist rheumatology consultation and diagnostic assessment

  • Interpretation of autoimmune and inflammatory blood tests

  • Review of joint imaging and bone density (DXA) results

  • Fracture risk assessment

  • Medical Treatment and Monitoring

  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment and monitoring

  • Biologic and targeted therapy, where indicated

  • Osteoporosis treatment and long-term bone health management

  • Management of disease flares

  • Long-term follow-up and treatment review

  • Procedures

  • Joint aspiration

  • Joint and soft tissue steroid injection

  • Coordinated Care

  • Multidisciplinary care alongside orthopaedics, physiotherapy and other specialties

  • Second opinion on rheumatological diagnoses

Career record

Professional Experience

  • Visiting Consultant Rheumatologist

    Muscat Private Hospital, Muscat, Oman (current)

  • Senior Consultant Rheumatologist and Head of Rheumatology

    Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman (current)

  • Professional and Academic Roles

  • President

    Oman Society of Rheumatology

  • Teaching and mentoring of medical students and residents

Qualifications

Education & Training

  • Specialist training in Rheumatology

    United Kingdom

  • Undergraduate medical education

    United Kingdom

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A rheumatologist diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the joints, muscles, bones and immune system — including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, vasculitis, osteoporosis and other inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Most of this treatment is medical rather than surgical, and usually involves long-term follow-up.
Rheumatologists treat joint and musculoskeletal conditions with medication and long-term management, particularly where inflammation or the immune system is involved. Orthopaedic surgeons treat structural and mechanical problems, often surgically. The two work closely together, and it is common to be seen by both.
It is worth being assessed if joint pain is accompanied by swelling, by stiffness that is worse in the morning and lasts more than half an hour, or if it affects several joints, persists for weeks, or comes with fatigue, rash or fever. Early assessment matters in inflammatory arthritis, where starting treatment sooner protects the joints.
Most are long-term conditions that are controlled rather than cured. Modern treatment can be very effective at suppressing inflammation, relieving symptoms and preventing joint damage, and many people reach low disease activity or remission. Treatment is usually ongoing, with regular monitoring.
A DXA scan is a short, low-dose X-ray that measures bone density and helps diagnose osteoporosis and assess fracture risk. It is commonly recommended after the menopause, after a fracture from a minor injury, or for people on long-term steroid treatment.
Please bring recent blood test results, any X-rays, scans or DXA reports with their written reports, a list of your current medications including painkillers and any steroids, details of previous treatments you have tried, and a note of which joints are affected and how the symptoms change through the day.
Book an Appointment

Book Your Consultation with
Dr. Ali in Muscat

Book your consultation with Dr. Ali in Muscat, Oman. Our team is here to help you arrange the right appointment.

Prefer to speak with us? Call Dr. Ali and our team will assist with appointment availability and insurance enquiries.

Book an Appointment
Call to book Dr. AliBook Dr. Ali on WhatsApp