Egypt Emergency Numbers, Embassies, Hospitals and Useful Contacts

For an immediate emergency in Egypt, use the local service first: Police 122, Ambulance 123, Fire 180 and Tourist Police 126. U.S. citizens can also contact the U.S. Embassy in Cairo at +20-2-2797-3300. Save these numbers before you travel and keep your tour operator and insurer contacts in the same place.

Most trips to Egypt pass without any need for these numbers. But in an emergency, the minutes spent searching for a phone number or wondering who to call first are the minutes that matter most. This page gives you the essential contacts, explains what each one can and cannot do, and sets out a simple order of actions so you know exactly what to do if something goes wrong.

Emergency numbers at a glance

The three-digit local numbers can be dialed from any Egyptian mobile or landline. Calls to emergency services are often answered in Arabic first. If you are with a guide, driver or hotel staff, ask them to make or help with the call; if you are alone, speak slowly, give your location as precisely as you can, and use simple words.

What to do first in an emergency

Call the relevant local emergency service when urgent help is needed. Then contact your travel provider and your insurer. If you are traveling on a Nourbelle package, the operations contact should be used to coordinate the hotel, guide, vehicle or hospital side of the problem, but emergency services remain the first call for life-threatening situations.

A clear order of actions helps:

1. Make the situation safe and call 123 for an ambulance or 122 for police if anyone is in danger.
2. Call your insurer's emergency line as soon as you reasonably can, especially before non-urgent treatment. Many policies require you to notify them early.
3. Contact your tour operator so they can help with transport, translation, hotel arrangements and changes to the itinerary.
4. Contact your embassy if you need consular help, such as a replacement passport or help reaching family.
5. Keep every document: medical reports, receipts and police reports. Your insurer will ask for them.

The Tourist Police

Egypt's Tourist Police are a dedicated branch stationed at major archaeological sites, museums, airports and tourist areas. They are used to dealing with visitors, and officers at the larger sites often speak some English. They are the right contact for problems such as theft, harassment, disputes with vendors or drivers, or when you need a police report for insurance. You will usually find officers at the entrance to major sites, and you can call 126.

U.S. Embassy Cairo

The U.S. Embassy is at 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo. The main and after-hours emergency number published by the U.S. Department of State is +20-2-2797-3300. The Embassy can help U.S. citizens find medical care, report crimes, replace a lost or stolen passport and contact family, but it does not pay medical bills, act as a lawyer or provide travel funds as a matter of routine.

Before you travel, consider enrolling in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the Embassy to contact you in an emergency and sends you security updates. If you are not a U.S. citizen, look up your own country's embassy in Cairo on your government's foreign-affairs website and save the emergency number in your phone. Many embassies are in the Garden City and Zamalek districts.

Medical care and insurance

Private hospitals in Cairo can provide higher-level care, while options become more limited outside the major cities. In Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts, there are hospitals and clinics that regularly treat visitors, but serious cases are sometimes transferred to Cairo. Hotels and cruise ships can usually call a doctor for minor illnesses.

The U.S. State Department notes that U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not operate abroad and that some facilities may require payment up front. Travel insurance with medical and evacuation coverage is therefore worth reviewing before departure. When you choose a policy, check:

• Medical limits and whether they cover private hospitals.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation, including to another country if needed.
• Pre-existing conditions and how they must be declared.
• Activities such as diving, balloon flights or desert trips.
• The 24-hour assistance number, which should go in your phone and in your wallet.

Hospitals in the main touring areas

The facilities below are commonly used by visitors. The list is a traveler reference, not a medical recommendation or ranking, and telephone numbers change, so confirm current details with your insurer, hotel or operator before relying on them.

The UK government's travel advice for Egypt also publishes a list of medical facilities, which is a useful cross-check whatever your nationality.

A useful list is not a guarantee

Hospital names and telephone numbers change. In a real incident, ask your insurer, local operator or embassy for the most appropriate current facility for the situation. Your insurer in particular may have direct-billing arrangements with certain hospitals, which can save you from paying large sums up front.

Other useful contacts to save

• Your hotel and cruise ship reception numbers.
• Your guide and driver, once you meet them.
• Your airline's local or international customer service line.
• Your bank's international number for lost or stolen cards.
• A family member at home who has a copy of your itinerary and passport details.

Keep a printed copy of these contacts in your luggage as well as on your phone, in case your phone is lost or the battery runs out.

Lost passport, theft and other common problems

If your passport is lost or stolen, report it to the police and get a written report, then contact your embassy for a replacement or emergency travel document, and tell your operator so they can adjust arrangements. If your wallet or cards are stolen, call your bank immediately to block them. For minor medical problems, such as stomach upsets or heat exhaustion, your hotel, ship or guide can usually arrange a doctor or pharmacy visit quickly.

Heat and dehydration

A common health problem for visitors is not dramatic: it is too much sun and too little water. Signs of heat exhaustion include headache, dizziness, nausea and unusual tiredness. Move into the shade or air conditioning, drink water with rehydration salts, and rest. If symptoms are severe, or if someone becomes confused or stops sweating, treat it as an emergency and call 123. Prevention is simple: start sightseeing early, carry water, wear a hat and take a break at midday.

Road incidents

If you are involved in a road incident, stay with the vehicle if it is safe to do so, call 122 for police and 123 if anyone is hurt, and contact your operator. Do not sign documents you cannot read; ask your guide or the Tourist Police for help with translation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the police number in Egypt?

The police emergency number is 122. Tourist Police can be reached on 126 and are stationed at major sites, airports and tourist areas.

What is the ambulance number in Egypt?

The ambulance number is 123. Calls are usually answered in Arabic first, so ask a guide or hotel staff member to help if you can.

What is the U.S. Embassy emergency number in Cairo?

The number is +20-2-2797-3300, according to current U.S. State Department guidance. It serves as both the main line and the after-hours emergency line for U.S. citizens.

Should I call Nourbelle instead of an ambulance?

No. For a life-threatening emergency, call emergency services first. Then contact Nourbelle so the local operations team can help coordinate the rest of the trip.

Do I need travel insurance for Egypt?

It is strongly advisable. Some hospitals require payment up front, and U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover care abroad, so a policy with medical and evacuation coverage protects you from large unexpected costs.

Plan it with Nourbelle

Traveling with local support makes an emergency easier to handle. Tell us about your trip and a Nourbelle specialist will reply with a tailored plan.