Practical
The numbers worth having in your phone before you need them — for Egypt generally and for the Red Sea coast specifically.
In an emergency, call first — read later.
Dial 112 anywhere in Egypt. This page is a reference, not a substitute for the emergency services or your embassy. Numbers were last checked on 24 July 2026; if something here is wrong or out of date, tell us.
Emergency services (all of Egypt)
- All emergencies (unified)112Routes to police, ambulance or fire
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Fire180
- Tourist Police126Officers trained to help foreign visitors
- Traffic Police128Road accidents
Diving emergencies and hyperbaric chambers
A suspected decompression illness needs a recompression chamber, not a general hospital. Tell your dive centre immediately — a reputable operator has an emergency plan and knows the fastest route to a chamber.
Embassies and consulates
Most embassies are in Cairo, and several countries keep consular agents on the coast. We link each country’s official page rather than reprinting numbers that go stale.
Official travel advice
Common questions
- What is the emergency number in Egypt?
- Dial 112 for any emergency — it is the unified hotline and routes you to police, ambulance or fire. You can also dial direct: 122 for police, 123 for ambulance, 180 for fire. Visitors can call 126 for the Tourist Police, whose officers are trained to help foreign nationals.
- Who do I call for a diving accident on the Red Sea?
- Suspected decompression sickness needs a recompression chamber, not a general hospital. In Hurghada, Hypermed (opposite the airport) and the Naval Hyperbaric Medical Center in Sakkala both run hyperbaric facilities. DAN Europe operates a 24-hour diving emergency hotline on +39 06 4211 8685 for medical advice and evacuation coordination. Tell your dive centre immediately — reputable operators have their own emergency procedures and know the fastest route.
- Is there a tourist police in Hurghada?
- Yes. Egypt has a dedicated Tourist Police service reachable on 126, with officers trained to assist visitors with theft, lost documents, harassment and disputes. For anything urgent and dangerous, call 122 or 112 first.
- What should I do if I lose my passport in Egypt?
- Report it to the police (122) or Tourist Police (126) and get a copy of the report, then contact your embassy or consulate — most are in Cairo, and several countries maintain consular agents on the Red Sea coast. Your embassy issues emergency travel documents; the police report is normally required first.
- Can I drink the tap water on the Red Sea coast?
- Most residents and visitors drink bottled water. Tap water on the coast is largely desalinated and is generally used for washing and cooking rather than drinking. Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available; a refillable bottle plus a filter is the low-waste option.
Know a number that belongs here — a clinic, a chamber, a consular agent on the coast? Send it to the desk and we will check and add it.