Emergency Contacts for Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a unified emergency number 911 that connects to all emergency services, including police, ambulance, and fire. However, direct service numbers are also operational and can sometimes provide faster routing. The ambulance and medical emergency number is 997, which connects to the Saudi Red Crescent Authority. The fire department number is 998. The police emergency number is 999. The traffic accident number is 996. The drug and poison emergency line is 920002814. These numbers work from any phone — local SIM, international roaming, or even a phone without a SIM card. When calling, be prepared to state your location as precisely as possible, ideally with a landmark name or street name. English-speaking operators are increasingly available on 911, but having a companion who speaks Arabic can speed the response.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah operates a dedicated pilgrim helpline at 920002814, available in multiple languages including Arabic, English, Urdu, Indonesian, and Turkish. This line can assist with lost pilgrims, missing Hajj groups, accommodation issues, and general pilgrim inquiries. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques can be reached through the Haram security offices located at every major gate of both Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi. Medical clinics operate 24 hours a day within both mosque complexes, staffed with doctors and nurses who can handle emergencies and common pilgrim health issues. During Hajj season, field hospitals and medical tents are established at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Saudi health emergency line 937 (SEHA) provides medical advice and can direct you to the nearest healthcare facility.

Every pilgrim should save their home country's embassy or consulate contact information before traveling to Saudi Arabia. Most countries with significant Muslim populations maintain consulates in Jeddah (the closest major diplomatic center to Makkah) and embassies in Riyadh. During Hajj season, many countries establish temporary consular offices in Makkah and Mina specifically to assist their nationals. Embassies can help with lost or stolen passports (issuing emergency travel documents), legal issues, medical emergencies requiring repatriation, and locating missing persons. Your Hajj operator should have a direct line to your country's Hajj mission, which acts as liaison between the embassy and pilgrim groups. Store your embassy number, your Hajj operator's emergency number, and your group leader's number in your phone and on a physical card kept in your money belt.

Beyond knowing the emergency numbers, personal preparation is critical. Create an emergency card — a small laminated card carried on your person at all times — containing your full name, nationality, passport number, blood type, allergies, medications, chronic conditions, hotel name and address, Hajj group name and number, group leader's phone number, emergency contact back home, and embassy phone number. Write this information in both English and Arabic. Store the same information digitally in your phone's medical ID feature (available on both iPhone and Android), which can be accessed by medical responders without unlocking your phone. Share your location with a trusted family member using Google Maps or WhatsApp live location sharing during the Hajj days. Register with your country's embassy or consular representation in Saudi Arabia before departure, so they have your details on file in case of emergency.