It is safe to say that the world we live in today is an uncertain one. Theft, assault, injury, health issues emergency are among the vast range of deterrents most of us have dealt with or most likely will have to deal with at some point in our lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise in 2020, changed our lives forever, and continues to do so.
One thing that the pandemic taught us, however, is that being vigilant is the only way to be safe. That is what we look at in this article – emergency numbers and services in Saudi Arabia.
So you can protect yourself and your loved ones, not just from the virus, but from any sort of harm that may come your way.
Common Emergency Numbers
The following is a list of the leading emergency numbers in Saudi Arabia. 112 is the number you can call immediately for any emergency, and the operator will connect you to the concerned official.
If a caller does not speak Arabic, the operator will instantly connect them to someone who speaks English.
Operators who speak French, German, Bahasa Indonesia, and Urdu can also be requested. It is highly recommended to ask the operator what you can do until help arrives.
When calling any of these numbers, make sure to clearly describe what has happened, state your name and location, and ask for an expected arrival time.
- Emergency number: 112
- Police: 999
- Ambulance Service: 997
- Traffic Police/ Assistance after Car Accidents: 993
- Civil Defense: 998
- Assistance in times of Natural Disasters: 996
- Saudi Arabian Coast Guard: 994
- Directory: 905
- National Family Safety Program: 116111
- Poison Control: + 966 11 232 4180
For animal and veterinary services, Saudi Human Society (Riyadh), Open Paws (Riyadh and Jeddah), and Happy Endings Animal Rescue Group (Dammam) are some big rescue centers that you can reach out to.
What can YOU do in an emergency situation in Saudi Arabia?
Medical services in Saudi Arabia are free of cost, and operators cannot deny any requests for an ambulance.
However, a downside of this is that the paramedics in Saudi Arabia get somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000 calls a day.
This number has increased severely after the pandemic. In case of a medical emergency, the quickest and most efficient course of action is to get to the hospital yourself. Visit Offical Website
If you are unable to do so, get the help of someone you trust to drive you to the hospital or try getting a taxi service after explaining to them the urgency of the situation.
If your insurance is applicable in a particular hospital, try getting to that same hospital.
Even as you make your way to a hospital on your own, be sure to call an emergency operator on the way or have someone do it for you and inform them of your condition.
They will offer you advice to keep the injury/ sickness at bay until you are at the hospital.
Read: Postal Codes Of All Major Cities In Saudi Arabia 2021
It is recommended to keep the operator on the phone until you are sure you or the concerned person is out of harm’s way.
If you are not from Saudi Arabia, it is advised that you register yourself at a local hospital close to you, as non-citizens may not have access to public welfare services.
Emergency Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia
Following are pharmacies in major Saudi Arabian cities that are open 24×7.
- Nahdi (this is a nation-wide pharmacy)
- Dr Sulaiman Al Habib (Riyadh)
- Noura Pharmacy (Jeddah)
- Al Dawaa Pharmacy (Dammam)
To conclude, these are trying times. The world is in a state of despair that has never been felt before. Emergencies are something that could happen to anyone, rich or poor, young or old.
Our only hope is to be as aware and alert as possible because if you don’t take care of yourself and your loved ones, who will?
