Emergency Numbers in Africa and Middle East
Emergency infrastructure varies greatly across this region — from world-class response in the UAE to remote areas with limited services. Know the numbers and plan ahead.
Emergency infrastructure varies significantly across this region
The UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia have modern, well-funded emergency services with fast response times. In contrast, some areas of sub-Saharan Africa may have limited government ambulance coverage, especially outside major cities. Travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation is strongly recommended for travel in rural parts of Africa.
No single standard emergency number across this region
The UAE and Kenya use 999, Saudi Arabia and Jordan use 911, Israel uses 100 for police, Egypt uses 122, and South Africa uses 10111 for police. Always look up and save the specific number for each country you plan to visit.
🕌 Middle East
🌍 Africa
🧳 Africa and Middle East Travel Tips
- → UAE emergency services are highly efficient — English-speaking dispatchers available 24/7 on 999.
- → In Saudi Arabia, women travellers should note that the police (911) and civil defence operate separately.
- → Israel has Magen David Adom (MDA) as its national ambulance service — dial 101 for medical emergencies.
- → South Africa: in addition to 10111 (police), consider saving the number for a private ambulance service like ER24 (084 124) or Netcare 911 (082 911) for faster urban response.
- → Kenya's 999 emergency line can be overwhelmed in Nairobi. Your hotel security desk is often the fastest first contact.
- → In Egypt, tourist police (126) can assist foreign nationals — keep this number alongside the general emergency numbers.
- → Buy travel insurance with medical evacuation cover before visiting remote African destinations.