Emergencies in Essaouira

Good to Know

• Save 112 in your phone — it works even without a Moroccan SIM card or credit and is the most reliably cross-source-confirmed number.
• There is real inconsistency across sources on whether police is 19 or 190, and whether ambulance/fire is 15 or 150 — if in doubt, lead with 112, which multiple independent sources agree works nationwide.
• In a serious medical emergency in Essaouira, a taxi or private vehicle to the hospital is sometimes faster than waiting for an ambulance, and for serious cases you may be transferred to Marrakech or Casablanca for better facilities.
• There are no embassies or consulates in Essaouira itself — most are based in Rabat, with consulates in Casablanca.
• Ambulance services in Morocco are often privately operated and some private hospitals require up-front payment even in emergencies, so travel insurance with evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.
• Dial 150 for an ambulance/fire brigade in Essaouira, or 190 for police.
• The public hospital (Hôpital Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah) is the default 24-hour emergency option and takes walk-ins, but visitor reviews are mixed on hygiene, wait times, and equipment condition — many nomads/tourists opt for the private Clinique Internationale de Mogador when possible.
• For serious trauma, complex surgery, or specialist care, patients are often stabilized locally and then transferred to hospitals in Marrakech or Casablanca, which have more advanced facilities.
• Good travel/medical insurance is strongly recommended — private clinic care is far more comfortable but costs more out of pocket without coverage.
• There are no foreign embassies or consulates in Essaouira; nearest consular help is typically in Agadir, Marrakech, Casablanca, or Rabat depending on nationality.