What to Do if You Get Sick or Injured in Hurghada

Short answer

For a medical emergency in Hurghada or elsewhere in Egypt, call 123 for an ambulance. Egypt’s telecom regulator also lists 112 as the general emergency number. If the situation is not urgent, contact your insurance assistance company first and ask which facility to use and how payment is handled.

Do not choose a clinic only because an advertisement promises an English- or Russian-speaking doctor. Confirm the location, specialty, opening status, language and insurer arrangement directly.

What should you do in an emergency?

Do not delay an ambulance call to compare prices, message an insurer or ask a social-media group when there is an immediate threat to life or serious injury.

Tell the dispatcher:

• the exact hotel, compound, street, entrance and nearest landmark;
• what happened, without trying to diagnose the condition;
• how many people need help;
• the caller’s name and reachable telephone number;
• whether gates, stairs or a remote location may delay access.

At a hotel, ask reception to help explain the location and meet the ambulance, but do not let that replace the call. For a diving, boating or remote-coast incident, describe the activity and location clearly.

Save Nabiora’s Egypt emergency contacts page for offline access, but recheck official numbers rather than relying on an old screenshot.

Ambulance, hospital or clinic?

Need	Appropriate first route
Immediate danger or serious injury	Ambulance 123
Urgent in-person assessment	A hospital emergency department or the route given by emergency services
Non-urgent illness or follow-up	Insurer-approved clinic, medical centre or doctor
Medicine question	A licensed clinician or pharmacist; a pharmacy does not replace diagnosis

Do not move a person with a potentially dangerous condition in an ordinary taxi simply to save time. For a non-emergency visit, call ahead and confirm that the relevant department is accepting patients.

Which official provider information exists?

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population publishes a general-hospital directory that includes Hurghada General Hospital. The Red Sea Governorate also publishes a Health Directorate page. These government sources help verify that an institution or authority exists, but they do not guarantee that a particular specialist, bed, language or service is available at the moment you need it.

Private providers such as MedPark Hospitals and Royal Hospital publish their own service and contact information. Treat those pages as provider claims, not as an independent quality ranking or a guarantee of treatment results.

Nabiora deliberately does not name a single “best clinic.” The safe choice depends on urgency, medical specialty, current capacity, insurer instructions and the ability to provide written records.

How should you use travel insurance?

For a non-emergency case, call the assistance number on the policy before booking treatment. Ask:

• which facility and branch the insurer authorises;
• whether the insurer pays directly or you pay and claim later;
• whether a case or guarantee-of-payment number is required;
• which documents, receipts and reports must be collected;
• whether a follow-up visit needs separate approval.

In an emergency, obtain help first. As soon as practical, notify the insurer and keep the ambulance, hospital and payment records.

If a clinic says it “works with” an insurer, verify that statement with the insurer. A provider may recognise a company but still require full payment from the patient.

What should you confirm before a non-emergency visit?

Call the selected facility and ask specific questions:

• is this a hospital, emergency department, outpatient centre or doctor’s office;
• is the required specialty available today;
• which branch and entrance should you use;
• is a language you understand available during this shift;
• what does the initial consultation cost and what is billed separately;
• will the facility communicate with your assistance company;
• can it provide a written report, test results and itemised receipt?

A website’s promise of multilingual staff does not mean the relevant person is on duty. Prepare a short note with symptoms, medicines, allergies, chronic conditions and insurer contact details. Automated translation can help with basic communication but should not be treated as a diagnosis.

For planned dental or costly treatment, ask for a written plan and follow-up terms. Consider an independent second opinion before an irreversible procedure.

Documents and medical privacy

Bring the policy details, assistance case number, passport details, current medicine list and any relevant records. For a child, carry the accompanying adult’s documents and information requested by the facility.

Do not post passports, policies, tests or medical photographs in a public Telegram or Facebook group. If a provider asks for documents in advance, confirm its official website and telephone channel, and send only what is necessary.

Medicines in Hurghada

Do not replace a prescription with a group-chat recommendation. A similar brand name may have a different active ingredient, dose or formulation. Ask a qualified professional to verify the generic name, strength and contraindications.

Keep the prescription and packaging. If you use regular medication, prepare a reasonable supply before travel within the applicable transport rules and carry a copy of the prescription where required.

What records should you collect after a visit?

Before leaving, request:

• a dated medical report or discharge summary;
• clearly written prescriptions and instructions;
• laboratory and imaging results;
• an itemised invoice and proof of payment;
• follow-up instructions and a contact for pending results.

Check that the patient’s name matches the passport. Keep originals and backups for later care and for an insurance claim.

Common questions

What is the ambulance number in Hurghada?

Call 123. Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority also lists 112 for general emergencies.

Which Hurghada clinic is best?

There is no universal, verifiable answer. Choose by urgency, specialty, current availability, insurance route and the facility’s ability to issue complete written records.

Should I contact insurance before an ambulance?

Not when life or safety is immediately at risk. Call 123 first. For non-emergency care, early insurer contact can prevent payment and documentation problems.

Official sources and verification date

Emergency numbers were checked against the Egyptian Ambulance Organization and National Telecom Regulatory Authority. Government-provider navigation was checked against the Ministry of Health and Population and Red Sea Governorate. Private-provider information is identified as self-published. Last verified: 2 September 2026.