In this study we collected in situ accretion/erosion rates and abiotic/biotic variables to estimate carbonate budgets and ecological drivers of coral reef growth in the central Red Sea. Our data suggest that reef growth is comparable to estimates of other regions, but the erosive forces in the Red Sea are not as pronounced. Comparison with recent data suggests that Red Sea reef growth might not have decreased over the past decades, despite warming, calling for more detailed investigations.