Egypt’s Cassation Court: Property Donations for Public Projects Are Administrative Contracts

Egypt’s Court of Cassation has established that agreements under which citizens donate private property to state administrative bodies for public-benefit projects are administrative contracts, rather than gift contracts.

The principle concerns arrangements in which the receiving authority undertakes to bear the costs and carry out the project for which the property is donated.

The case described involved property donated for use as a taxi stand, on condition that the administrative authority fund and establish the project.

The court’s distinction treats the donation as part of an agreement tied to a public purpose and obligations on the receiving authority, rather than simply a transfer of property as a gift.