American Hospital Dubai · Oud Metha & Science Park

Pediatric · Adult Congenital · Sports Cardiology

From first heartbeat to peak performance.

UK-certified Pediatric and Adult Congenital Interventional Cardiologist with interest in Sports Cardiology now at American Hospital Dubai, providing advanced expertise and guidance for children and adults with congenital heart disease, and athletes seeking safe participation in sports.

28 years' medical experience performing over 2500 independent procedures, such as device closures, valves, stents and other complex congenital interventions, as well as specialist clinics for pulmonary hypertension, Fontan, neuromuscular, sports and ACHD.

Portrait of Dr. Arul Narayanan, Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist at American Hospital Dubai

Current practice

American Hospital Dubai

Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist

MRCPCH · FRCPCH · CCT

28

Years' medical experience

Pediatric, congenital interventional and sports cardiology care

2,500+

Independent procedures

Device closures, valves, stents and other complex congenital interventions

5

Specialist clinics led

Pulmonary hypertension, Fontan, neuromuscular, sports and ACHD

UK specialist register

GMC Pediatric Cardiology

Advanced heart care

Congenital heart care, catheter-based interventions, athlete heart assessments and lifelong guidance

Award

UK Charity Tiny Tickers 25th Birthday Thank You Award

Practice philosophy

Care that combines clinical excellence with supportive empathy.

Providing advanced congenital heart care, catheter-based interventions, athlete heart assessments, and lifelong cardiac guidance.

Care is shaped for children, adults with congenital heart disease, and athletes seeking safe participation in sports.

Training

Dr. Arul Narayanan is a UK-trained Pediatric Cardiologist with sub-specialty training in Pediatric and Adult Congenital Interventions at Liverpool and Manchester.

Experience

He held the position of Director of Congenital Cardiac Intervention for North West England. He also holds a Certificate in Sports Cardiology from The FC Barcelona's Education Division.

Honoured with the Tiny Tickers 25th Birthday Thank You Award.

Dr Arul Narayanan was recognized by the UK charity Tiny Tickers for sustained contribution to the early detection and care of babies with congenital heart conditions.

Read the award story

25 th

Birthday Award

Patient guidance

When to seek a cardiac evaluation.

Early assessment provides reassurance — or timely treatment when needed. Consider a cardiac evaluation if you or your child has any of the following.

  1. 01

    Sports cardiology screening

    Pre-participation evaluation for competitive and recreational athletes.

  2. 02

    Known congenital heart disease or murmur

    Any murmur warrants expert evaluation to rule out structural disease.

  3. 03

    Chest pain, palpitations, frequent tiredness

    Especially if symptoms occur during or after physical activity.

  4. 04

    Exercise-induced fainting or dizziness

    Exertional syncope is a red flag requiring urgent cardiac assessment.

  5. 05

    Insufficient weight gain or poor feeding

    In infants and children, these may signal an underlying cardiac cause.

  6. 06

    Blue discolouration of lips or fingers

    Cyanosis may indicate an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.

  7. 07

    Family history of sudden cardiac death

    Particularly if a family member died suddenly before age 50.

  8. 08

    Fetal cardiac screening

    Early detection from 18 weeks of pregnancy can be lifesaving.

  9. 09

    Breathlessness

    Excessive fatigue or dyspnea.

Clinical expertise

Diagnosis, intervention as well as long-term follow-up.

— 01

Pediatric Cardiology

Comprehensive cardiac assessments, ECG, echocardiography and long-term follow-up.

  • · Fetal & newborn screening
  • · Echocardiography & cross-sectional imaging
  • · Catheter-based treatments
  • · Lifelong monitoring
— 02

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Specialist care for adults born with heart defects — including those diagnosed in adulthood — with continuity of care across every life stage.

  • · Lifelong CHD management
  • · Adult transition care
  • · Pregnancy & cardiac risk
  • · Re-intervention in ACHD
— 03

Sports Cardiology

Pre-participation screening and athlete cardiac assessments designed to keep active individuals competing safely.

  • · Pre-participation screening
  • · Athlete heart assessment
  • · Return-to-play guidance
  • · Exercise testing
— 04

Minimally-Invasive Interventions

Catheter-based procedures replacing open-heart surgery for many conditions — faster recovery, less discomfort, shorter hospital stays.

  • · ASD · VSD · PDA closure
  • · Catheter valve replacement
  • · PDA device closure in pre-term infants
  • · Pulmonary & aortic stenting, percutaneous valve implantation, sinus venosus ASD stent closure
— 05

Advanced Cardiac Diagnostics

Precision imaging across echocardiography, cardiac CT and MRI, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing to detect conditions early and accurately.

  • · Echocardiography
  • · Cardiac CT & MRI
  • · CPET — exercise testing
  • · Holter & event monitoring
— 06

Preventive & Lifelong Care

Care does not end after treatment. Preventive cardiology and long-term follow-up to ensure good quality of life over decades.

  • · Preventive cardiology
  • · Long-term CHD follow-up
  • · Family risk assessment
  • · Heart-health counselling

Services provided for sports cardiology

Athlete Heart Screening & Performance Cardiology

Services

  • · Athlete ECG screening
  • · Sudden cardiac death prevention
  • · Sports participation assessment
  • · Pediatric athlete evaluation
  • · Adult congenital exercise assessment
  • · Exercise stress testing
  • · Return-to-play cardiac evaluation

Athlete Heart Check

Include

  • Consultation
  • ECG
  • Echo
  • Exercise advice

Elite Athlete Screening

Include

  • Consultation
  • ECG
  • Echo
  • Exercise stress test
  • Sports clearance report

Sudden Cardiac Death Screening Program

For

  • Schools
  • Academies
  • Sports clubs

Interventional & structural procedures

Catheter-based · minimally-invasive

  • Atrial septal defect closure ASD
  • Ventricular septal defect closure VSD
  • Patent ductus arteriosus closure PDA
  • Balloon valvuloplasty Pulmonary · aortic
  • Coarctation stenting Native & re-coarctation
  • Pulmonary artery stenting Branch PA
  • RVOT procedures Right-ventricular outflow
  • Atrial septostomy Rashkind
  • Cyanotic disease palliation PDA/RVOT stenting
  • Percutaneous pulmonary valve Both balloon & self-expanding
  • Coronary fistula closure Device closure
  • Re-intervention in ACHD Adult congenital

Credentials & training

Educational and Professional Background

UK sub-specialty interventional training preceded by pediatric, PICU and extensive pediatric cardiology fellowship completed at Alder Hey - one of Europe's largest children's hospitals.

  1. 01 · 1997 MBBS Madurai Medical College · Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
  2. 02 · 2002 Diploma in Child Health (DCH) Institute of Child Health - Madras Medical College, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
  3. 03 · 2004 MRCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, UK
  4. 04 · 2005–08 Specialist Registrar - Pediatrics & PICU Mersey Deanery · Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool
  5. 05 · 2008–12 Pediatric Cardiology Training Alder Hey & Manchester Heart Centre, UK
  6. 06 · 2011 CCT - Pediatric Cardiology General Medical Council (GMC), UK
  7. 07 · 2012 FRCPCH Royal College of Pediatrics & Child Health, UK
  8. 08 · 2012–14 Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist · Narayana Hrudayalaya One of the world's highest-volume congenital cardiac units located in Bangalore
  9. 09 · 2014–17 Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist · Fortis Hospitals 350+ interventions per year in Bangalore and Chennai
  10. 10 · 2017–19 Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist · Gleneagles Global Health City Heart transplant, ECMO & structural intervention in Chennai
  11. 11 · 2019–26 Lead Interventional Cardiologist North West Congenital Cardiac Network, UK
  12. 12 · 2026— Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist American Hospital Dubai

Research & academic activity

Evidence shared, knowledge advanced.

A continuing commitment to evidence-based practice and to sharing expertise with the wider medical community.

Certifications

2012 FRCPCH

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

2011 Fellowship in Congenital Cardiac MRI

Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London

2011 CCT in Paediatric Cardiology

General Medical Council, UK

Memberships

GMC General Medical Council, UK
RCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
AEPC Association of European Paediatric Cardiology
BCCA British Congenital Cardiac Association
KMC/TNMC Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Medical Council
  1. 2025

    PDA device closure in extreme preterm babies

    World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery · Hong Kong
  2. 2025

    Congenital interventions in elderly population

    World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery · Hong Kong
  3. 2024

    Transposition of great arteries and double aortic arch

    Association of European Paediatric Cardiology · Porto
  4. 2015

    Neonatal Aortic Dilatation Secondary to Vitamin A Deficiency

    PEDIATRICS · Vol. 135, No. 5
  5. 2015

    Hyper-Eosinophilic LV Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Strongyloide Infection

    SCMR / EuroCMR Joint Scientific Sessions
  6. 2014

    Rare Tetralogy of Fallot with anomalous coronary origin

    Indian Journal of Practical Paediatrics
  7. 2006

    Giant Atrial Appendage and Absent Pericardium

    Cardiology for Young · April 2006
  8. Cardiac Evaluation of Paediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

    Book chapter · Paediatric Liver Intensive Care

Questions

Frequently asked.

If there is a heart murmur, chest pain, palpitations, exercise-induced syncope, blue discoloration, insufficient weight gain, or a family history of heart disease or sudden death, an early evaluation provides reassurance or timely treatment.

Yes. Congenital heart disease requires lifelong management. Adults with previously repaired or undiagnosed defects benefit from continuity of specialist care.

A detailed history and physical examination, ECG, echocardiography and exercise testing, designed to identify risk while keeping athletes active and safe.

For many conditions, including ASD, VSD, PDA closures and selected valve interventions, catheter procedures may offer faster recovery, less discomfort and shorter hospital stays.

Yes. Families and referring clinicians can email imaging, catheter reports and clinical summaries so the consultation can be prepared with the right context.

A sports cardiology assessment can identify red flags, review ECG and echocardiography findings, and provide clear advice on safe participation.

Many can, but advice should be personalised according to diagnosis, repair status, rhythm, ventricular function, pressures, exercise response and risk profile.

Sudden cardiac death during exercise is rare, but it can occur in individuals with an underlying heart condition that has not yet been diagnosed. Conditions such as inherited heart muscle disorders, electrical abnormalities, or congenital coronary artery abnormalities may increase risk during intense physical activity. Regular exercise remains one of the best ways to protect long-term heart health. The goal of sports cardiology screening is to identify those few individuals who may be at increased risk and ensure they can participate safely.

For competitive athletes, a pre-participation cardiac assessment including an ECG can help identify heart conditions that may not cause symptoms but could increase risk during sport. An ECG is a simple, non-invasive test that records the heart's electrical activity. When interpreted by a physician experienced in sports cardiology, it can be a valuable tool in assessing an athlete's heart health and suitability for competition.

Regular training can lead to normal adaptations known as "athlete's heart," including a lower resting heart rate and mild enlargement of the heart chambers. Occasionally, these changes can resemble heart disease. Specialist assessment using ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, and sometimes cardiac MRI can help distinguish healthy athletic adaptation from conditions that require further management.

Most chest pain in children is not caused by heart disease and many children can continue normal activities. However, chest pain that occurs during exercise, is associated with dizziness, fainting, palpitations, unusual breathlessness, or a family history of sudden cardiac death should be assessed by a paediatric cardiologist. A specialist evaluation can usually provide reassurance and help determine whether any restrictions are necessary.

A faster heartbeat during exercise is normal. However, palpitations that are sudden, irregular, recurrent, or associated with dizziness, chest pain, fainting, or reduced exercise performance should not be ignored. A sports cardiology assessment can help determine whether symptoms are benign or require further investigation, allowing athletes to exercise with confidence and peace of mind.

Appointments

Begin a conversation about your heart health.

For appointments, clinical records or referral queries, use the direct contact options below.

Contact

Get in touch.

Three ways to reach the practice — choose the one that fits. For acute symptoms or emergencies, please contact American Hospital Dubai directly or your nearest emergency department.

Clinic address

American Hospital Dubai

Oud Metha Road, Dubai, UAE

American Hospital, Science Park, Dubai, UAE

Consulting hours

By appointment

Confirmed at the time of booking with the hospital