Worth saving before you travel, not looking up in an actual emergency — a short, practical reference that takes two minutes to save now and could genuinely matter later.
Police: 122. Ambulance: 123. Fire: 180. Tourist Police (specifically for tourist-related issues and easier English support): 126. Saving all four in your phone under clearly labeled contacts, rather than relying on memory in a stressful moment, is worth the small effort.
Egypt maintains a dedicated Tourist Police force specifically to assist visitors, with a stronger likelihood of English-speaking staff than general police lines — the practical first call for most tourist-related issues, from lost documents to scam disputes. Tourist Police officers are also commonly stationed directly at major sites like Giza and Luxor Temple, making an in-person report possible without even needing to call.
The Tourist Police exist specifically to help visitors and are a better first call than general emergency lines for most tourist issues.
Locate your country’s embassy or consulate in Cairo before you travel, and save their contact details — essential for lost passports, serious legal issues, or emergencies requiring official assistance. Most embassies are concentrated in Cairo’s Garden City and Zamalek districts, though this offers little help if you’re in Luxor or Aswan at the time — knowing your embassy’s emergency phone line, reachable regardless of your location in Egypt, matters more than its physical address.
International hospitals in Cairo and major tourist areas generally offer higher standards of care and English-speaking staff — ask your hotel for the nearest recommended option rather than defaulting to the closest facility blindly. Cruise ships and larger resorts typically have a doctor on call or a clear referral process for anything beyond basic first aid.
Report a lost or stolen passport to local police first (you’ll need the police report for your embassy), then contact your embassy directly for emergency travel document guidance — having a photocopy or photo of your passport’s information page saved separately genuinely speeds up this process.
Register your trip with your embassy if your country offers this service, save all emergency numbers in your phone before departure, and keep a physical backup copy of key contacts in case your phone is unavailable, lost, or out of battery when you actually need them.
