Law of Civil Associations, Foundations, and Organizations Performing Civil Activities (draft law)

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Prof. Dr. Ali Abdel Aal
Speaker of the Parliament

I have the honor, with their highness members of the Parliament, have the pleasure to present to you a
law on regulating the work of associations and other public institutions in the field of civil work signed by
more than ten members of the Parliament.

Kindly refer the draft law to the specialized committee in accordance with the provisions of the internal
regulations of the Parliament.

Please accept our highest appreciation and respect.

Member of the Parliament
Abdulhadi Alqassabi
[List of handwritten names and signatures of 112 members of the Parliament]

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Law No ( ) of 2016
Resolving the Law of Civil Associations, Foundations, and Organizations Performing Civil Activities
By the name of the People
President of the Republic
The Parliament has resolved the following law:
Article One
Pursuant to the provisions of the regulations of the established associations in accordance with the
international agreements concluded by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the civil associations, foundations,
and other entities shall be subjected to and regulated by the provisions of the enclosed law.
This law and the enclosed law shall organize the freedom of practice of civil work for the associations and
organizations. It is prohibited for any entity, under any form o r title, to practice any of the civil activities
without being subject to the provisions of the enclosed law.
Article Two
All entities performing civil activities, pursuant to the definition stipulated in the enclosed law, of any
legal form or naming, shal l rectify their status pursuant to this law within six months of its resolution;
otherwise, the competent court shall order its dissolution. The funds of these associations shall be
transferred to the fund to support civil associations and foundations defi ned in the enclosed law. Every
activity of these entities in violation of the provisions of this article shall be ceased.
The rectification of the status of these entities is through notifying the concerned ministry or the National
Authority for Organizing Foreign NGOs Work established pursuant to the enclosed law, based on the
situation, of all data of the association, organization , or entity and its activities, funding sources,
programs, protocols, memoranda of understanding, and other cooperation forms o f any naming that are
performed by the Arab Republic of Egypt. That shall be done using the form prepared for that purpose.
The entity shall also amend its regulations and systems to conform to the regulations and provisions of
this law and the enclosed law.
Article Three
The Administrative Authority shall undertake the responsibility of listing the entities that have not
rectified their status in accordance with the provisions of the enclosed law. The concerned minister shall

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form one or more committees c omprising the staff of the administrative authority and others. The
membership of the committee shall include a representative of the governorate in which the entity is
based. The committee(s) shall be responsible for the implementation and completion of t he dissolution
process after the issuance of a judicial order of the dissolution of the entity. The resolution shall define the
system and period of work of the committee(s).
Article Four
It is prohibited for any entity to practice any of the activities of national associations and foundations
without being subject to the provisions of the enclosed law. Any entity, other than the competent
Administrative Entity pursuant to the attached law, may not, under any form or title, license the
practicing of any act ivity of the activities of national associations and foundations. Such a license shall be
void and invalid as of its issuance and may not bear any legal effect.
Article Five
Existing boards of directors of national associations, foundations and federations established pursuant to
provisions of law No. 84 of 2002, and their executive and administrative bodies, shall continue to operate
until they reformed according to its provisions.
Article Six
The Prime Minister shall issue the executive regulations of the enclosed law within six months as of the
date of its promulgation. Until these regulations are issued, the current executive regulations and
resolutions may continue in effect notwithstanding the provisions of the enclosed law.
Article Seven
The law of na tional associations and foundations No. 84 of 2002 is hereby abolished as well as any
provision that contradicts with the provisions of the enclosed law.
Article Eight
This law is published in the official gazette and becomes effective on the next day foll owing its publication.
President of the Republic
Abdel Fattah el -Sisi

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Law of Civil Associations, Foundations, and Organizations Performing Civil
Activities
CHAPTER ONE: DEFINITIONS
Article 1
In the implementation of the provisions of this law, the following words and expressions have the
following meanings: 1. Civil work: A work that does not aim at profit with the purpose of realizing development of the
society in one certain area defined in th e article of association of the entity.
2. Association: A group of a continuous legal formation established in accordance with the
provisions of this law composing of natural or legal persons, or both, whose number in all cases is
not less than 10, for a purp ose of practicing civil work and.
3. Public Benefit Association: an association that aims at realizing public benefit upon or after its
establishment and whose activity is for serving the public. A public benefit status shall be granted
by a resolution from the prime minister.
4. Foundation: A legal person established by the allocation of one or more natural or legal persons,
or both, of an amount not less than ten thousand pounds upon establishment for a civil work
purpose without aiming at securing any profit or benefit.
5. Foreign Non -Governmental Organization: a foreign legal person, whose purpose is not for profit
and whose main management is located in Egypt or outside, licensed to perform one or more
activities of national associations and foundations subjec t to the provisions of this law and its
rules.
6. Central Association: an association whose declaration is endorsed, according to the provisions of
this law, by a decision from the Competent Minister, or who he authorizes, whose articles of
association provi de for working at the level of the Republic, having a branch or more in more than
one province. The executive regulations of this law shall define any other criteria for central
associations. New branches for a central association in provinces may not be e stablished unless
approved by the Competent Minister.
7. Regional Federation: a federation having a legal personality established by no less than ten
national associations or foundations, or both, located in one province, regardless of the activity.
8. Speciali zed Federation: a central federation having legal personality established by at least ten
associations or National foundation s, or both, who perform common activities in specific fields at
the level of the Republic.

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9. The General Federation: a legal person of heads of boards of directors of regional and specialized
federations providing support and assistance to national work. The federation shall be located in
the city of Cairo.
10. Regional Organization: a civil association or foundation that performs its civ il work in the
Republic of Egypt and another country or more.
11. Competent Court: The administrative court having jurisdiction on the management center of an
association.
12. The Coordination Committee: A coordination committee set up pursuant to the provision of
Article 70 to decide on anything related to the work of foreign non -governmental organizations in
Egypt , and all forms of cooperation with the government and non -government organization, the
funding of their activities, and other responsibilities mandated to it in pursuant to the provisions
of this law.
13. Competent Minister : The Minister concerned with the affairs of civil associations and work.
14. Administrative Entity: The Ministry concerned with the affairs of civil associ ations and work.
CHAPTER TWO: ASSOCIATIONS
Article 2
A national association is established by serving a notification to the competent Administrative Entity. The
notification must fulfill all required documents provided for under the ensuing articles. An association
acquires a legal personality and every natu ral or legal person has the right to join or withdraw from it in
accordance with the provisions of this law.
The notification shall be considered valid and of legal effect only if it fulfills all the required data and
documents in accordance with the form prepared for this purpose.
Article 3
It is conditional for the formation of an association to have written articles of association that conforms to
the form of the articles of association stipulated by the executive regulation and to be signed by all
founders. It shall also have an independent and appropriate management center in the Arab Republic of
Egypt and that it is appropriate for the performance of its activity.
In all cases, the articles of association of each and every association shall stipul ate on its commitment of
the respect of the constitution and laws and not violate the national security, law and order, and public
honor and morals.

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Article 4
It is conditional for a member of an association to enjoy civil rights and with no previous conc lusive
verdicts restricting freedom in a crime or offense that breaches honor or honesty, unless rehabilitated.
Article 5
It is permitted for non -Egyptians having permanent or temporary residence in Egypt to join membership
of any association or its boar d but they may not exceed 10% of the members and that it shall notify the
administrative entity of the names of those desiring to become members of the association or its board.
Article 6
It is permitted for any foreign community to establish an associatio n observing the affairs of its members
pursuant to the provisions of this law and with the condition of reciprocal treatment for the Egyptian
community in that relevant country.
Article 7
Articles of association of any association must contain the followin g data:
a. Address of the association management center
b. Name of the association, which should not create any confusion with any other association within
the same geographic or areal scope.
c. The geographic and areal scope of the association and its areas of activity.
d. Purposes, activity nature, goals, and means of achieving these goals of the association.
e. Name, surname, age, nationality, profession, domicile, national identification number and email
address (if any) of each founder.
f. Resources of the associati on, their utilization and disbursement.
g. Bodies that represent the association, the competencies of each, the method of members
selection, dismissal or invalidation of membership as well as the quorum for the meetings of these
bodies, the validity of their decisions and the means of invitations for informing members.
h. Membership system, conditions, rights and duties of members; especially the right of every
member to review the documents of the association, attending and voting in the general assembly
whene ver necessary conditions are fulfilled.
i. Financial and accounting systems and financial control system.

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j. Rules for the meetings of the ordinary and extraordinary general assembly, the invitation process,
the validity and location of the meetings. This shal l include the rules for the powers of members in
these meetings, the issuance of decisions, voting and election mechanisms of members of the
board of directors, its powers, the appointment of the auditors and determining their fees.
k. Rules for amending the articles of association of the association, establishing its branches, the
cases for its termination other than the case of its dissolution by a court order, and entities that
shall benefit from its funds in these cases. It is impermissible that the artic les of association of any
organization dictate that the funds of the association are transferred to anybody except the
National Associations and Foundations Support Fund or any national association or foundation
working in the same field of the association .
l. Identity of the person who is authorized to apply for the “public benefit status .”
The Executive Regulations of this law shall be enclosed with model articles of associa tion for guidance
purposes, and the articles of association of these associations shall not violate this model.
Article 8
The Administrative Entity undertakes to coordinate and cooperate with the concerned entities to establish
a database in which it lists all associations and entities subject to the provisions of this law including their
activities, programs, sources of funding, and other necessary aspects. Every association or entity will have
a distinctive number at the national level in the database.
The Administrative Entity also undertakes to enter the summarized articles of association in the
associations’ database since the date of being notified of the wish to establish the association. This
notification has no effect unless enclosed with the following documents:
1. Four copies of the articles of association of the association signe d by all founders.
2. Two copies of the internal regulations that regulate financial and administrative affairs of
the association and its workers in accordance with the model guiding sample enclosed
with the executive regulations of this law.
3. The criminal status sheet and financial disclosure statement of every founding member.
4. A list of the persons selected for leadership and membership of the first board of directors
from the founding group.
5. An official certified document confirming the occupancy of the a ssociation’s premises.
6. A proof of payment of a fee not exceeding 10 thousand pounds for registering the
association in the registry of the Administrative Entity. These fees shall be transferred to

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the National Associations and Foundations Support Fund. The legal personality of the
association is affirmed by making such entry.
7. The rules and conditions of voluntary work in association activities, if any, in addition to
the rights and duties of volunteers and means of their protection.
8. Identity of the repres entative of the group of founders in the establishment procedures.
9. The website of the association and its email address, if applicable.
The executive regulation stipulates on the other documents that must be provided by those desiring to
establish an ent ity that is organized by the provisions of this law or to become a member of the board,
board of trustees, or work in these associations.
Article 9
The person requesting the establishment of the association submits a receipt that proves receipt of his
notification stating the hour and date of receiving the notification and the person that received it. The
notification may not be rejected unless it doe s not fulfill the data, information, and documents required.
If the Administrative Entity finds, within 30 working days of the date of the notification, that purposes of
the association contain a penalized activity pursuant to the Penal Code or any other punitive law or that
the data and enclosures of the notification are incomplete, it shall reject the application by a justified
decision to be notified to the representative of the group of founders by a registered letter with receipt
confirmation.
In this case, the representative of the group of founders may make right the mistake, complete the missing
data or appeal against this decision before the competent court within sixty working days of being
notified.
Article 10
T he Administrative Entity undertak es to enter the association and take necessary actions to publish the
summarized articles of association of the association on the official website of the Administrative Entity
on the worldwide web (internet) after completing the notification process in accordance with the
provisions of Article 9.
The association, upon affirmation of its legal personality, must publish its summary articles of
association, approved by the Administrative Entity, in Egyptian newspapers and on its website, if
applicable.
The Ad ministrative Entity shall issue a letter to any bank under the oversight of the Egyptian Central
Bank to open a bank account for the association using its registered name. It may not open an account of

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the association or any other entity subject to the pro visions of this law unless the aforementioned letter is
issued.
Article 11
Any concerned person may review the summarized articles of association and obtain a certified copy
thereof against a fee of one hundred pounds. These fees go to the National Associations and Foundations
Support Fund.
Article 12
For amending the articles of association of an association, the same procedures for the establishment
under this chapter shall be followed.

CHAPTER TWO: PURPOSE S, RIGHTS, AND COMMITMENTS OF ASSOCIATIO NS
Article 13
The association or any other entity subject to the provisions of this law shall work in the fields of social
development defined in the articles of association of the association.
Associations and entities subject to the provisions of this law which perform their work and activities
within the scopes defined by a resolution by the prime minister shall get the permit to perform these
works from the administrative entity after consulting the concerned governor before commencing the
implementation.
In all cases, associations and other entities subject to the provisions of this law are not allowed to work in
any field or practice any activity that is part of the work of political parties, vocational or employee
syndicates, work of political nature, or work that may cause harm to the national security, law and order,
public morals, or public health.
Article 14
Associations shall work to achieve their purposes in the fields of development and social welfare to
achieve social development goals within the scope of the state plans and development needs and
priorities. It is impermissible to ban any of the aforementioned activities unless it breaches the conditions
of establishment or goals of the association or if it relates to political and syndi cate activities having laws
regulating them.
Establishment of clandestine associations is prohibited. It is also prohibited for any association to
perform any of the following:

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1. Formation of brigades or formations of military nature.
2. The practice of acti vities that result in destabilizing the national unity, national security,
public law and order, and public morals.
3. Calling for discrimination between citizens on the bases of sex, race, color, language,
religion or belief, or any other activity promoting racism, incitement of hatred or any
other causes that run ag ainst the constitution and law, or calling for the violation or
nonconformity to laws and regulations.
4. The participation in funding or promoting for electoral campaigns for any candidate in
presi dential, parliamentary or local elections, or partisan propaganda campaigns.
Associations may not provide financial support to parties, partisan or independent
candidates or nominating any candidates in any elections under the name of the
association.
5. Gra nting any scientific or professional certificates
6. Any other activities, which practicing requires a license from a government entity before
obtaining that license.
7. Conducting surveys and publishing or making available their results. Conducting field
resea rches or disclosing their results before presenting them to the Coordination
Committee to make sure of their integrity and neutrality.
8. Getting into agreements of any form with any foreign entity inside or outside the country
before notifying the Coordinati on Committee of such as well as any amendments to such
agreements.
9. Targeting the realization of any profit for members of the association or performing any
activities leading to this result. Following commercial practices to realize profits assisting
in the purposes of the association may not be considered as a violating activity.
Article 15
All the chairs, board members, board of trustee members, and other entities subject to the provisions of
this law are all subjected to the law of illegal earning and must conform to its provisions.
In all cases, it is not permitted to second any workers in the Ministry of Social Solidarity or its affiliated
directorates or social unit or any other public authorities that undertake the supervision, guidance, or
control over the associations to work in national associations and foundations subject to this law.
Article 16

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Without prejudice to any other privileges provided for in other law s, associations, foundations and
federations established pursuant to the provision of this law shall enjoy the following benefits:
a. Exemption from registration and entry fees due on the association with regard to all
contracts where the association is part y to such as property and mortgage contracts or
any other in -kind rights, as well as exemption from signature endorsement fees.
b. Exemption from current taxes and stamp duties, and those imposed in the future, on all
contracts, powers of attorney, documents , printed materials, registers…etc.
c. Exemptions for properties owned by the association from real -estate tax. The association,
upon exercising its right in owning properties for fulfillment of its purposes only. The
relevant activity may not be changed unl ess with the consent of the Competent Minister.
Article 17
Every member has the right to withdraw from the association at any time provided that the association is
notified by a receipt -acknowledged letter. This may not prejudice the right of the association to claim for
any due funds on the member of any nature.
Article 18
A member who withdraws from an association has the right to retract his decision to withdraw within 15
working days of the date of notifying the association. The executive regulations o f the law shall define the
procedures and rules for withdrawal from membership of an association.
Article 19
An association may cooperate with, join, affiliate to or partner with any local or foreign association, entity
or organization to perform a civil a ctivity that is not contradictory to the purposes of the association,
provided that it receives permit from the Administrative Entity based on a request thereto.
The executive regulations shall define controls for such cooperation, affiliation or partnersh ip with the
local or foreign entity and the contents of the notification of data and information. The association may
appeal against the rejection decision before the competent court.
Article 20
The Competent Minister, following an approval from the Coordination Committee, may license an
association to open branches outside the Arab Republic of Egypt following the conditions prescribed in
the executive regulations of this law. In this case apply the provisions of the regulations of regional
organizati ons.
Article 21

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An association is not permitted to open sites or offices in any province of the republic under its direct
supervision for conducting and implementing its different activities unless except after the written
approval of the Competent Ministe r or who he authorizes. The approval shall mention the address of the
site, the nature of target activity, the name of the person in charge of it, and the workers.
Article 22
The associations and other entities subject to the provisions of this law shall o pen a bank account in one of
the banks subject to the control of the Central Bank. This account can have s ubaccounts.
It shall also make sure that the expenditure on its activities/goals or its receipt of any funding are
processed through this account or i ts subaccounts, and not any other accounts.
Article 23
Without prejudice to the provisions of the antiterrorism and money laundering laws and to achieve its
purposes and financial sustainability, an association may receive cash funds or collect donations inside
the Republic from Egyptian natural or legal persons. These funds shall be deposited in its bank account
and association records shall be updated accordingly. The association shall allocate and spend these funds
for the purposes for which they were raised.
It is a condition to notify the Administrative Entity thirty working days before receiving or collecting
donations in order to get the required approval thereto. The Administrative Entity shall notify the
Coordination Committee. These funds shall no t be spend except after the approval is issued. The
Executive Regulations of this law shall set forth the procedures and conditions required for licensing fund
raising, as well as necessary conditions for each fundraising method as required by public inter est.
Article 24
Without prejudice to the provisions of the antiterrorism and money laundering laws , an association may
receive funds, donations and grants from Egyptian or foreign natural or legal persons outside the country
providing that these funds are deposited in their bank account and update their registers accordingly. The
Competent Minister, af ter consulting with the Coordination Committee, shall issue a decision regulating
the procedures and rules for receiving funds within one month of the date of funds receipt into the
account of the association. The Coordination Committee may object to the receipt of funds within the sixty
working days following the date of notification.
The association undertakes not to spend donated funds within the sixty -day period. If the Coordination
Committee does not respond within the sixty -day period, su ch inaction is considered as a non -approval.
The association may not send or transfer funds of any kind to persons or organizations abroad except
after obtaining a written approval thereto . This excludes the purchase of books, scientific, technical and
artistic bulletins and journals and subscription fees. The executive regulations shall define the procedures
for obtaining such permission and its requirements in terms of data and documents.

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Article 25
The association shall adhere to the standards of transparency, disclosure, the declaration of the sources of
its funding, the names of its members, its annual budget and its activities on its official website and the
website of the Ministry of S ocial Solidarity as well as inside its premises or it may use any publication and
declaration mean.
The association shall maintain its documents, libraries, registers and bank notices and letters in its
management center. The executive regulations of this law shall define these registers, their keeping and
use and data they contain. These registers shall be stamped by the Administrative Entity before using
them.
Article 26
The Administrative Entity and the Coordination Committee shall be entitled to match the works of the
associations and other entities subject to the provisions of this law without any hindrance to their work. It
shall verify the funding provided to these entities matches the destinations and purposes for which they
were allocated. To that end, they both have the right to take the necessary procedures to rectify any
procedures or works that are in violation of the provisions of the law or the regulations issued to apply the
law.
The Administrative Entity in case of violation of the provision s of articles 23, 24, and 25 and after
notifying the entity with the necessary warning shall be entitled to suspend the activity of the association
for a period not exceeding one year or to request the dissolution of the association or foundation or
dismis sal of the board or board of trustees based on the situation from the concerned court.
The association shall allow any of its members to examine the records, documents and instruments of the
association whenever a member officially requests that from the association.
The association shall regularly update their project data and details, forms of cooperation it formulates,
and its funding entities. The executive regulation of the law provides the deadlines of the regular update of
the data.
Article 27
Representatives of the Administrative Entity, nominated by a decision from the Competent Minister, may
enter to the premises or branches of any association, foundation, federation or organization subject to the
provisions of this law to monitor its activit ies and review its records on administrative, technical and
financial aspects to ensure that they are in compliance with the provisions of this law or to provide the
technical support whenever it considers fit in a manner that does not hinder the work of the association.
The association and its board shall assist the representatives to fulfill their tasks.

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Also every activity performed by other legal persons, that are within the purposes and fields of work of
associations in any legal form, is subject to th e monitoring of the Administrative Entity even if procedures
of founding the relevant association have not been taken in accordance with this law.
Article 28
Every association must have an annual budget that starts at the start of the year and ends at the end of the
year. Accounts should be recorded in books elaborating in details its revenues and expenditures including
donations and grants and their sources.
If the total annual revenues or expenditures of the association exceed one hundred thousand pound s, the
board of directors shall present its final accounts to a chartered accountant, listed on the roster of auditors
and accountants, for examination and submission of a report thereon.
In all cases, the final accounts must be published on the official website of the association and the website
of the Ministry of Social Solidarity no less than seven days before the convention of the general assembly
and shall also be distributed to association members as prescribed in the articles of association. The
Adm inistrative Entity shall be notified in order to attend or to follow up.
The Administrative Entity may object to the final accounts and request that they are corrected within
fifteen working days. Otherwise, the Administrative Entity may take actions provided for in this law.
Article 29
The association shall undertake to deposit its cash monies in its bank account under its registered name.
The Administrative Entity shall be notified by this bank account number . Disbursement from these
monies shall be only done by the chairman, or his assignee, and the cashier based on a resolution from the
board of directors. The association shall notify the Administrative Entity by the names of those authorized
to sign.
Article 30
The association shall spend its funds for fulfilling its purposes and may invest the surplus of its revenues
in a way to ensure securing financial resources to support its activities or reusing the funds in productive
or service projects to support its activities in accordance with the Executive Regulations. In all cases,
associations are not allowed to engage in financial speculations. The association shall convert foreign
currency it receives to the Egyptian currency via an official bank and may not ke ep foreign currency
except to the extent required to implement its activities.
Article 31
In cases where the association issues a decision considered by the Administrative Entity as violating this
law or the articles of association, the Administrative Enti ty may request the association, via a registered

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letter with receipt confirmation, to withdraw the decision within ten working days of being notified. If this
period elapses without withdrawing the decision, the decision of the Administrative Entity is considered
valid. The association may appeal to the decision in accordance with the followed procedures .
CHAPTER THREE: BODIE S OF THE ASSOCIATION
First: The General Assembly
Article 32
The General Assembly shall compose of operating members who spent no less than ninety days in
membership and fulfilled all their obligations pursuant to the articles of association of the association.
The articles of association of the association shall define the procedures of holding ordinary and
extraordinary meetings of the general assembly, the mechanism of inviting to these meetings, the meeting
place, the power of members in both types of meetings in issuing and voting on decision, the election of
members of the board of directors, defining their powers, the appointment o f auditors and setting their
fees. In this regard, the association shall send to the Administrative Entity copies of the minutes of
meetings, decisions and all amendments made to the formation of the board of directors and the articles
of association.
Second: Board of Directors
Article 33
Each association shall have a board of directors composing of an odd number of members not less than
five and not more than fifteen pursuant to the articles of association. Members shall be elected by the
General Assembly for a term of four years. The first board of directors shall be appointed by the founders
for a term of one year.
Article 34
The Board of Directors shall display the names of candidates for membership of the Board of Directors in
the association premises on the second day following the closure of the nomination period. The
Administrative Entity shall be notified within the seven following days but thirty working days at least
before the elections date.
The Administrative Entity , and whoever concerned, may notify the General Assembly within seven days
following the display or notification of the list, as the case may be, by any ob jections on members not
meeting the conditions. If the concerned candidate does not withdraw nomination within fifteen days of
the notification to the General Assembly, the Administrative Entity must issue a decision removing this
person. The removed perso n, or whoever concerned, may submit a claim before the competent court

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within seven days following the issuance of this decision. The court shall decide in the case before the date
of the elections on urgency basis.
Article 35
It is prohibited to combine b etween membership of the board of directors of the association and working
in the Administrative Entity or any other public entities supervising, guiding or monitoring the
association and its funding except by a license from the Competent Minister and for the public benefit.
This prohibition does not apply to associations whose membership is limited to those working in any of
the aforementioned entities. It is also prohibited to combine between membership of any board of
directors and paid work in the association or any of its activities or projects.
Article 36
The Board of Directors of an association shall manage its affairs. The executive regulations of this law
shall define the competencies of the chairman, the deputy chairman, the cashier and the secreta ry general
of the association. The chairman is the person representing it before judiciary and third parties. The board
of directors, for the management of the association’s affairs, may conduct any works other than the
activities indicated in this law or the articles of association as activities requiring the prior approval of the
General Assembly. The Board of Directors may appoint a general manager for the association, who may
not be a member of the board.
Article 37
The articles of association of the a ssociation shall define the procedures of holding its meetings, valid legal
quorum, its agenda and the voting mechanism in it. The board of directors shall meet at least once every
three months. In case a member is absent, for more than half the meetings c onvened by the board in one
year’s time, the member is considered as has resigned and shall be notified by this via a registered letter
with receipt acknowledged.
Article 38
Decisions of the board of directors shall be passed by the consent of the absolut e majority of present
members unless the articles of association provide for a larger majority. If votes are equal, the chairman
shall have a casting vote. The Board of Directors shall notify the Administrative Entity by decisions passed
by it or the Gener al Assembly within fifteen working days of issuance.
Article 39
A aboard member may be reimbursed for actual transportation costs to attend sessions and committees as
prescribed in the internal regulations of the association.
Article 40

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Subject to the articles of association of the association, if the number of members of the board of directors
becomes insufficient for it to be validly held, then the Competent Minister may, when necessary, appoint a
temporary board from amongst the remaining members or others. The temporary board shall have the
competencies of the board of directors. The temporary board of directors shall invite the General
Assembly for convening within a year as of the date of appointment to elect a new board of directors. The
mission o f the temporary board ends with the election of a new board of directors.

CHAPTER FIVE: DISSOL UTION OF ASSOCIATION S
Article 41
An association may be voluntarily dissolved by a decision of the Extraordinary General Assembly
following the approved rules in its articles of association. In this case, the dissolution decision shall
provide for the appointment of one or more liquidators from the list of certified accounting offices. The
resolution shall define period of liquidation and liquidator’s fees. The Adm inistrative Entity shall be
notified by that. If the liquidation period elapses without completing the process of liquidation, the
Administrative Entity may extend it for one more term. Otherwise, the Administrative Entity may conduct
the liquidation by it self.
Article 42
Based on a request from the Administrative Entity, the competent court may rule for terminating the
board of directors of an association and appointing a temporary board to take actions to invite for a
general assembly meeting to elect a new board of directors in the following cases:
1) If the association performs activities that are not provided in the Article s of Association of the
Association or that are not permitted.
2) If it is proven that the Articles of Association are not true.
3) If the board of directors of the association disposes or allocates its funds for purposes other than
its original purposes.
4) If t he association receives funds from an external entity or sends funds to an external entity in
violatio n to the provisions of article 2 4 hereunder.
5) If the board of directors commits the crime of wasting of funds, or any other crimes covered
under chapter four, volume two, of the penal code.
6) If the association collects donations in violation to provisions of article s 2 3 and 24 hereunder.
7) If it is proven that the members of the board of directors gain profit from the activities of the
association or take it s funding.
8) If the General Assembly does not convene for two consecutive years.
9) If the Administrative Entity is not enabled of monitoring the works of the association in
accordance with the provisions of article 27 hereunder.

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10) In case of moving to a new pre mises without notifying the Administrative Entity within no more
than three months of the date of moving.
In all cases, it is prohibited for whomever it is proven to have a personal responsibility from among
members of the dissolved board of directors for the violations that led to dissolving the board to nominate
himself for the membership in another national association for a maximum period of four years as of the
date of issuance of the termination of dissolution decision.
A rticle 43
The competent court shall rule based on a request from the Administrative Entity for dissolving the
association and appointing a financial liquidator in the following cases:
1. Not rectifying the status in violation of the provision of this law and the articles of association
2. If it is proven that the real purposes of the association are related to targeting or performing an
activity of the activities banned in article 14 herewith.
3. Continuance of the association in committing any of the violations stated in the article 42 and
ref raining from rectifying the error.
4. The association receives funding from an external entity without obtaining the necessary permit
or spends these funds in violation to the provisions of this law.
5. The association violates the provisions related to the rec eipt of funds or collection of donations
from inside the Republic.
6. If the association cooperates, joins, subscribes or affiliates to a foreign club, association, authority
or organization in violation to the provisions of this law.
7. Not conducting actual w orks or serious programs for a year from the date of establishment or
from the date of the last activity.
Article 44
The competent court shall decide in the standing claims in the cases aforementioned in articles 42 and 42
on basis of urgency without presenting it to the Egyptian State Lawsuits Authority.1
The Administrative Entity may suspend the activities of the assoc iation until the issuance of a ruling from
court. It is impermissible in all cases to license an association, which has violations referred to the court
for terminating the board or dissolving association, to collect donations, receive foreign funding or
receiving subsidies from the Associations and Foundations Support Fund until the issuance of a ruling
from court.
Article 45
Those responsible for a dissolved association, whether by decision from the general assembly or by a court
ruling, shall handover the funds of the association and all its documents, records and papers to the
liquidator as soon as requested. These managers and the entity with whom monies of the association are

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deposited, and its debtors may not make any transactions in the affairs, fund s or rights of the association
except by a written order from the liquidator.
Article 46
The executive regulation defines the method of selection of the liquidator, the entity he refers to for the
performance of his work, the timeframe, and other issues re lated to his work in the liquidation.
The liquidator, upon conclusion of the liquidation process, shall distribute its outcomes as stipulated in
the articles of association. If the articles of association do not contain such provisions or if it becomes
imp ossible to implement these provisions, the outcomes of the liquidation shall be given to the National
Associations and Foundations Support Fund as provided for in Chapter Four hereunder. The executive
regulations shall define controls of the liquidation pr ocess, its term and procedures to be followed in case
it is not possible to complete this process.
Article 47
In consideration of the competence of the competent court, the first instance court, having jurisdiction in
the area in which the association prem ises is located, shall decide in claims submitted by or against the
liquidator.
Article 48
It is impermissible for members of the dissolved association, or any other person running its affairs, to
continue its activities or dispose its funds.

CHAPTER THREE: PUBLIC BENEFI T ASSOCIATIONS
Article 49
Public benefit associations shall be subject to provisions governing other associations for any matter not
specifically covered in this section.
Article 59
Any association willing to achieve a public interest upon or after its establishment may acquire the public
benefit status via a resolution from the Competent Minister based on a request from the association in
accordance with the controls set forth in the Executive Regulations of this law. Cancellation of the public
benefit status shall be via a resolution from the Prime Minister.
Public benefit associations may merge into each other by approval from the Administrative Entity and the
same applies to non- public benefit associations. Merger between public benefit associations and other

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associations not having public benefit status may be conducted only by a resolution from the Competent
Minister. The executive regulations shall define the controls of this merger.
Article 51:
Through a resolution fr om the Prime Minister, privileges of public benefit associations shall be defined ,
especially the non- seizure of part of or all their funds, the non -acquisition of these monies by
obsolescence and the possibility of expropriation of properties for the public benefit t o fulfill purposes of
the association.
Article 52:
The Administrative Entity may assign to a public benefit association the management of an affiliated
foundation or entity or implementing any of its projects or programs following the rules and procedures
to be determined via a decision from the Competent Minister.

CHAPTER FOUR: NATIONAL FOUNDATION S
Article 53
Provisions applicable to asso ciations shall apply to National foundation s for matters not specifically
covered by this Chapter.
Article 54
A National foundation is established by allocating a sum of money in line with the purpose of its
establishment and the size of envisaged activities but shall not be less than ten thousand pounds upon
establishment for a defined or indefinite period of time. National foundation s may not target realizing
financial gains for the benefit of a ny of its founders or trustees.
Article 55
The establishment of a National foundation may be made by one or more founders of natural or legal
persons or both. Founders shall develop articles of association that contain, in particular, the following
information:
A) Name of the foundation, provided that it does not result in confusion with another foundation or
associating sharing with it the same geographic scope.
B) The geographic scope of the association and its management center in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
C) The purpose behind the establishment of the foundation.
D) Detailed statement of funds allocated for the realization of the foundation purposes.
E) Organization of the foundation management including the methods of appointing the chairman
and members of the board of trustees and the method for appointing the manager.

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A National foundation may be established by an official instrument or a declared beq uest, each of which
may be considered as articles of association for the foundation provided it contain the information
mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Article 56
Whenever the establishment of a National foundation is via an official instrument, it is permissible for the
founder(s) to abolish it by another official instrument before its entry. The executive regulations of this
law may be enclosed with model articles of association that may be followed by National foundations.
Article 57
Every National foundation shall have a board of trustees composing of no less than five members and not
exceeding fifteen members to be appointed by the founder or founders. The chairman and members may
be from those trustees. The Administrative Entity shall be notified by such appointment and any changes
in the board of trustees.
Article 58
In case no board of trustees is appointed or the vacancy of one or more positions in the board and it is not
possible to appoint their substitutes following the method indicated in the articles of association, the
Administrative Entity shall make such appo intment. The board of trustees shall manage the National
foundation according to its articles of association and its chairman shall represent the foundation before
judiciary and third parties.

CHAPTER FIVE: FOREIGN NGOS
Article 59
Foreign nongovernmental organizations that are not affiliated with a foreign government, political party,
or foreign syndicate may be licensed to perform one or more activities of the activities of associations and
National foundation s subject to the provisions of this law and it s rules for a defined term of three years
renewable. An organization may not perform any activity in the Arab Republic of Egypt unless after
obtaining a license to perform it.

Article 60
The executive regulations of this law shall define procedures for license application, the term of the
license, data and information to be contained in the license application, documents to be attached thereto
which should include the following:

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1) An official endorsed certificate that states the mother organization is regi stered and performs civil
work in a legal manner in its country enclosing a certified copy of the articles of association of the
mother organization.
2) An official endorsed certificate stating that the organization requesting the license enjoys a good
reputa tion and not involved in any incidents of corruption or crimes.
3) Approval of the mother organization of the establishment of a branch in the country providing the
information of the founders, board members, officers, funding entities, activities, and other
documents that must be enclosed in accordance with the executive regulation of the law and the
rules of performing the licensed activity.
4) The criminal status sheet of the founders, board members, and officers.
Article 61
The organization pays when requesting the license and renewing or amending it a fee that does not exceed
three hundred thousand pounds or the equivalent in US dollars in the currency decided by the
Administrative Entity the yield of which goes to the Natio nal Associations and Foundations Support
Fund. This amount increases by 20% every 5 years.
Article 62
In all cases, such licensed activities shall be consistent with the needs of the Egyptian society based on the
priorities of development plans. It shall not be involved in the work of political parties, vocational or
employee syndicates, work of political nature, or work that may cause harm to the national security, law
and order, public morals, or public health.
Article 63
The foreign nongovernmental orga nization shall spend its money in what achieves its purposes according
to the rules of the activity it is authorized to perform inside Egypt. It is impermissible for an organization
to use its premises to achieve unlicensed goals or activities in violation to the laws and regulations.
Article 64
It is prohibited for a foreign nongovernmental organization licensed to perform an activity to send, move
or transfer any funds or donations allocated for implementing activities or projects in Egypt to any person
o r organization or authority or entity in the outside unless after obtaining an authorization for that from
the Coordination Committee and following the approved rules for that.
Article 65
A foreign organization licensed to work inside the Arab Republic of Egypt shall be subject to the control of
the competent Administrative Entity in accordance with this law and shall present to this entity the
following documents:

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• Bank account number and sub -accounts through which it receives or spends funding of its
acti vities in the republic, which the association is not allowed to receive or spend any money
without.
• Annual progress reports during the period of conducting its licensed activities
• Annual balance sheets endorsed by certified a legal accountant.
• Any other reports, data or information requested by the Administrative Entity concerning the
organization or any of its activities.
Article 66
All work relations concerning staff of the foreign nongovernmental organization are subject to the
Egyptian labor law. Egyp tian courts have exclusive jurisdiction over these disputes. Any agreement based
on other than that is considered invalid.
In all cases, the associations and entities subject to the provisions of this law shall not rely on foreigners as
experts, temporary or permanent workers, or volunteers except after it gets the permit to do so from the
Coordination Committee in accordance with the procedures and documents defined by the executive
regulation of this law.
Article 67
Without prejudice to provisions of thi s section, branches of foreign NGOs or their representation offices
shall be subject to the provisions of other sections of this law.
Article 68
In case the organization violates the provisions of this law or the rules for conducting licensed activities,
the Competent Minister , after approval of the Coordination Committee , may issue a decision suspending
the violating activity or c ancelling the activity license. The Coordination Committee shall inform the
concerned organization.
The executive regulations of this law shall define other conditions under which licenses to foreign
organizations are renewed, amended or cancelled as well as the procedures to be followed and the
disposal of its monies whatever their nature.
Article 69
The provisions related to foreign NGOs are applicable to regional NGOs and they shall abide by them. The
regional NGOs shall be entitled to open subaccounts of their original accounts to be allocated to what the
NGO spends in other countries.

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CHAPTER SIX: THE NATIONAL BODY FOR ORGAN IZING FOREIGN NGOS WORK (THE
COORDINATION COMMITT EE)
Article 70
A national body called “ The National Body for Organizing Foreign NGOs Work (The Coordination
Committee) ” that works under the supervision of the Prime Minister and has the legal personality. It shall
be located in the province of Cairo and may establish offices in other governorates.
The Committee shall undertake the responsibility of looking into all matters related to the establishment,
work, and activity of foreign NGOs in Egypt, all the different forms of cooperation between these NGOs
and the governmental and nongovernmental entities and foundations in the country, as well as the foreign
funding of the Egyptian civil association and foundations.
Article 71
The Coordination Committee besides the mandates provided by the provisions of this law undertakes the
following:
1. Approval of the requests of esta blishment of foreign NGOs, licensing the organization to perform
one or more activities in Egypt and deciding on the request for renewing, amending or cancelling
it.
2. Licensing the organization to send, move or transfer any funds or donations allocated for
implementing activities or projec ts in Egypt to any person, organization, authority, foundation or
association abroad.
3. Licensing for receiving funds from the outside whatever their nature whether from an Egyptian or
a foreign person, or from a foreign entity or its representative in the i nside. Or sending its funds
whatever their nature to persons or organizations in the outside notwithstanding the provisions of
article 64 herewith.
4. Ensuring that the funding of associations and other entities subject to the provisions of this law is
spent for the purposes it was allocated for or collected for as well as issuing the necessary
decisions to rectify any violations in this regard. The Committee is thus entitled to look into the
ban accounts of the entities subject to the provisions of this law.
5. Receiving the notifications of local funding of the associations and entities subject to the
provisions of this law from the Administrative Entity.
6. Licensing the foreign NGOs to go into forms of cooperation with other entities inside the country
and requiring the necessary data and documents thereto.
The Committee shall be entitled to make all decisions and resolve all necessary procedures that enable it
to practice its mandate.
Article 72

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The Committee is managed through a board of directors. It is f ormed via a resolution by the Prime
Ministry and to be chair ed by a chair with the degree of a minister for 3 renewable years, and the
membership of representatives of the following concerned ministries and agencies selected by the
ministers and heads of t hese entities:
– Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
– Representative of the Ministry of Defense
– Representative of the Ministry of Justice.
– Representative of the Ministry of Interior.
– Representative of the Ministry of International Cooperation.
– Represent ative of the competent ministry
– Representative of the Central Intelligence Agency
– Representative of the Central Bank.
– Representative of the Anti -Money Laundering Committee
– Representative of the Administrative Control Authority
Article 73
The Board of Directors shall call for a periodic meeting every month and whenever is deemed necessary
by the invitation of the chair or any of the directors. The meeting cannot be held except with a q uorum of
the majority of its members. Decisions cannot b e made except with the majority of two thirds of the
members. The issue to be decided by the board is considered turned down if there is not a q uorum for
making the decision, and any decision or work other than that is considered invalid.
The decisions of the board of members shall be informed to the Prime Minister within 7 days of their
issuance and he has the right to refer them back to be studied again. Then the related ministries and
entities shall be informed and these concerned ministries and entities shall be committed to
implementing and enforcing the provisions of these decisions.
Article 74
The Committee shall have an independent annual budget in which it enters the necessary sufficient
allocations for its activities. It is not permissible for the Committee to receive any aids or gifts from any
entity other than state entities.
Article 75
The Committee shall have its General Secretariat chaired by a General Secretary and a sufficient number
of competent staff. They shall have their own regulation that organizes the work and staff affairs and
duties. The regulation shall be issued by a resolution from the Prime Minister based on a presentation
from the board of directors of the Committee without being restricted to the government rul es and
systems.

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Article 76
The committee may seek assistance from whom it sees of expertise and specialization from relevant
ministries. The Executive Regulations of this law shall define the procedures for the meetings of the
committee, the establishment of its technical secretariat and determining its administrative expenditures.
Article 77
The Committee shall decide in applications submitted to it within no more than sixty working days of the
date of submitting the application with required documents en closed with it as set forth in the Executive
Regulations.

CHAPTER SEVEN: NATIO NAL ASSOCIATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT FUND
Article 78
A fund shall be established at the competent ministry, under the name of “National Associations and
Foundations Support Fund” to provide financial support for the sustainability of activities implemented
by associations, national foundations and federations established pursuant to provisions of this law. The
Executive Regulations of the law shall define the competencies of it s fund.
Article 79
The National Associations and Foundations Support Fund shall have a board of directors chaired by the
Competent Minister and the following members:
– Head of financial and administrative affairs sector
– Head of social welfare sector
– Head of the central department for associations and federations
– Deputy head of the state council
– Three public figures selected by the Competent Minister
– Head of the general federation of associations and national foundations
– Head of a regional federation
– Head of a specialized federation
– A member of a public benefit association
– A member of a central association
– A member of a national association
– A member of a nationa l foundation
The Executive Regulations shall define selection criteria and method. The term of the fund board is four
years. A decision from the Competent Minister shall be issued to establish the fund, define its
management structure and remunerations of its members. The fund shall have a technical secretariat

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composed of staff of the Ministry of Social Solidarity. A decision from the Competent Minister shall be
issued to define the composition of the secretariat, its working system and remunerations. The fund shall
have a manual for standard operating procedures.
Article 80
Resources of the Fund shall compose, in particular, of the following:
a. Amounts allocated in the state budget for assisting associations and national foundations
established pursuant t o the provisions of this law.
b. Fees for entry of associations and foundations, established under this law, in the
Administrative Entity register. And fees for issuing or renewing a work permit for foreign
NGOs.
c. Donations, assistance and grants received by the Fund and approved by the board of
directors.
d. Monies inuring from the dissolution of associations and national foundations.
e. Additional fees imposed for the benefit of charitable works.
f. Fines imposed pursua nt to provisions of this law.
g. One percent (1%) of the net yield of fund raising licenses issued in favor of an association and
of the amount of every licensed grant.
h. Any other resources approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.
i. Returns on the investment of its funds.

Chapter Eight: Regional & Specialized Federations
Article 81
Provisions applicable to associations shall apply to federations created in accordance with the provisions
of this law for matters not specifically covered by this Chapter.
Articl e 82
Associations and national foundations, whose management center is located within the province,
regardless of their activities, shall establish one Regional Federation among them. The Federation should
have written articles of association, entered with the competent Administrative Entity.
Article 83
Each Regional Federation shall have a board of directors composing of fifteen members for a term of four
years. The members shall be elected by the General Assembly. The Executive Regulations of this law s hall
define the competencies of the regional federation.

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Article 84
A specialized federation is formed of no less than ten associations or national foundations, or both,
performing or funding a joint activity in a specific field at the level of the Republ ic. The federation should
have written articles of association and a legal personality. As soon as an association or national
foundation acquires legal personality, it may join the specialized federation based on its activity. The
Executive Regulations of this law shall define procedures to join this federation and its competencies.
Article 85
A General Federation for Associations and National Foundations shall be established having legal
personality. The Executive Regulations of this law shall define the competencies of this federation, which
shall include, in its membership, the boards of directors of regional and specialized federations. The
headquarters of this Federation shall be in the city of Cairo.
Regional and specialized federations must join the General Federation. The executive regulations shall
define the procedures of joining and the fee required to be paid annually not exceeding five hundred
pounds for a regional federation and one hundred pounds for a specialized federation. Management of th e
General Federation shall be assumed by a board of directors composing of fifteen members elected by its
general assembly for a term of four years.

CHAPTER NINE: PUNISHMENTS
Article 86
Without prejudice to the Administrative Entity right to suspend the activity of the violating association or
request the dissolution of the association or the termination of its board members based on the situation,
without prejudice to any severer penalty stipulated in the penal code or any other law, the
violations/crimes stipulated in this law shall cause the penalties in this chapter.
Article 87
A jail sentence of not less than a year and not exceeding 5 years and a fine of no less than fifty thousand
pounds and not exceeding one million pounds on:
a. Whoever established an association, which real purposes are proven to conduct prohibited
activities contained in paragraphs A and B of article 14 hereunder.
b. Whoever received as a chairman or a member in an association or a National foundation , either in
a true or alleged capacity, funds from abroad or sends money to abroad or collects donations in
violations to provisions of this law. The court shall rule to obligate the convict to return any fund
he received, sent or collected as the case is. These funds shall go to the National Associations and

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Foundations Support Fund. Any bank or financial mediator who has aided or was involved in this
shall be punished with the same penalty.
c. Whoever embezzles the funding of the associations or other founda tions subject to the provisions
of this law or spend it in other than the purpose it was allocated for in violation of the regulations
and laws. The court shall sentence the person to pay double what he embezzled or spent based on
the situation. These fund s shall go to the National Associations and Foundations Support Fund
d. Whoever helped or participated with a foreign organization in performing a national activity in
Egypt without obtaining a permit from the Coordination Committee or in violation to the
pro visions of this law or the rules of performing the licensed activity. The court shall rule to
confiscate the money of this organization and forwarding it to the National Associations and
Foundations Support Fund.
e. Whoever conducted or participated in conducting field researches or opinion polls in the field of
national work without obtaining approvals from the concerned authorities.
f. Whoever performed an activity of the activities of the association or the National foundation
despite the issuance of a ruling or a resolution suspending its activities or dissolving it.
g. Whoever established an entity under any name and in any form other than the form of
associations and National foundation s established pursuant to the provisions of the law to
perform one of the ac tivities of these associations and foundations without following the rules
approved in it. The court shall rule to close the location and confiscate the funds and forwarding
them to the National Associations and Foundations Support Fund.
Article 88
A jail sentence of not exceeding a year or a fine of no less than twenty thousand pounds and not exceeding
five hundred thousand pounds shall be imposed on:
a. Every natural or legal person, with the exception of the competent Administrative Entity,
who grants a lic ense to any organ to perform an activity of associations or foundations
based on the conditions provided for in this law.
b. Whoever deliberately refrains from enabling the Administrative Entity to monitor and
examine the activities of the association.
c. Whoev er moves the premises to a different location than the notified one. In case the
violation is repeated, the Administrative Entity may request the dissolution of the
association in a claim before the competent court.
d. Whoever disposes the funds of an associ ation or a National foundation against which a
dissolution and liquidation ruling or resolution was issued without a written order from
the liquidator.
e. Every liquidator who distributes funds of the association, National foundation or
federation in contrary to the provisions of this law.
Article 89

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The person in charge of actual management of the legal person is punished with the same punishments
for the same acts committed in violation to the provisions of this law when it is proven that he knows
them and that his failure to perform his duties facilitated the crime. The legal person shall be jointly liable
for the financial penalties with the convicts in accordance with the provisions of this law.

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AN EXPLANATORY MEMOR ANDUM
FOR THE DRAFT LAW OF NATIONAL ASSOCIAT IONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER
ENTITIES PERFORMING CIVIL WORK
Law 84 of 2002 was issued to organize the affairs of Civil Work Associations and Foundations. The
practical experience after more than 10 years of application of the law has s hown that there had been
great developments in the field of civil work and civil society. The experience has also revealed many
shortcomings of the aforementioned law. The aforementioned law did not provide the civil associations
and foundations the freedo m of work and progress in the fields of social development due to the
ambiguity of some of its texts, incompleteness of its provisions, and lack of clarity of its procedures. The
law did not also strike the necessary balance between the requirements of pro tecting the national security
and preservation of law and order in the country. As a result of that, there have been many practical issues
for both the state and the civil society.
The international practices have revealed the importance that the state sh all ensure and guarantee that
the expenditure of the funding and money of the associations and other entities working in the field of
civil work is allocated only to civil work. That applies for the funding collected through fund raising or
donations in th e form of grants and other forms of funding. That is to ensure the abusers and greedy will
not be able to exploit it. It is also to ensure preventing any diversion in its spending from its set goals and
purposes. That is all aimed at the preservation of th e credibility of the state that has allowed the civil
society to help it perform works that fall within its responsibilities in the first place.
Therefore emerged the need to develop a new legislative framework that aims at achieving the
aforementioned goa ls in the framework of organization of provisions and clarity of procedures, eventually
achieving the constitutional regulations particularly after the constitution of 18 January 2014 and in line
with the international commitments of Egypt in the protectio n and organization of the freedom of Civil
Work and Peaceful Assembly.
It is worth noting that Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states the
following:
1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form
and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those which are prescribed
by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or
public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the
protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of
lawful restrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.

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Based on the constitutional bases in force, which have been complemented by the aforementioned
international conventions, the enclosed law has been resolved and the most prominent of its feat ures are
as follows:
First: Law of Issuance/Resolution:
1) The law of issuance/resolution has put provisions that organize the method of properly transiting
from the application of the old law of associations to the new law of associations. It has stipulated
on the cancellation of the old law and that it does not form any violation of the systems and
regulations of associations created in accordance with valid international conventions.

2) The law has ordered all the entities that perform civil work in accordance with the definition
stated in the law to rectify their status pursuant to its provisions within 6 months from its
issuance. Otherwise, there shall be a court order on dissolving the entity. The law has also ordered
the Administrative Entity to first make a list of the entities that have not rectified their status in
accordance with the provisions of the law.
Second: Substantive Law
1) The Law has devoted clear definitions of the terms used in the law to avoid the confusion of these
terms, which has resulted in different concepts and applications in the old law. The draft has also
created a new organization of the regional organization and clarified that it is the civil association
or foundation that practices its civil work in the Republic of Egypt and anothe r one or more
countries. It has also created a new national body that works under the supervision of the Cabinet
and in its membership are members of the concerned entities. It shall be responsible for dealing
with the issues of foreign NGOs in Egypt and t he funding related to their work.
2) The project has made the establishment of associations commence with a notification as
stipulated by the constitution providing that this notification fulfill all the required legal data and
conditions. It has also allowed the associations and institutional entities subject to the provisions
of this law to work in the fields of social development stated in their articles of associations and
nothing else. And to achieve the specialization of targets, the project did not perm it the
associations to work or be involved in any activities within the scope of work of political parties,
syndicates, activities of political nature, activities that might harm the national security of the
country, or activities that might violate the pu blic order, morals, or health.
3) To achieve the purposes of achieving the purposes and goals of the civil associations and
foundations, the draft law has prohibited the establishment or continuity of secret societies,
formation of military or paramilitary fo rmations or groups, practice of any works that result in the
violation of national unity, national security, public order, and public morals. It also prohibited
the calls for discriminating against each other because of race, origin, color, language, relig ion,

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creed, any other activity that calls for hatred and racism, or any other reason that violates the
constitution and the law. It has prohibited the participation in th e funding of parliamentary or
local elections, or partisan propaganda campaigns. Assoc iations may not provide financial
support to parties, partisan or independent candidates or nominating any candidates in any
elections under the name of the association, g ranting any scientific or professional certificates,
a ny other activities, which prac ticing requires a license from a government entity before obtaining
that license, and targeting the realization of any profit for members of the association or
performing any activities leading to this result. Following commercial practices to realize prof its
assisting in the purposes of the association may not be considered as a violating activity.
4) The draft law has supported the values of transparency, publicity, and disclosure in the work of
associations. It stipulated that the associations shall announc e their sources of funding, names of
members of the association, annual budget, and activities and publish all of that on their official
website, the website of the concerned ministry, inside their headquarters or any means of
publicity and publication.
5) The draft law guaranteed the association, for the purpose of achieving its goals and support its
financial resources, the right to receive cash funding and fund raising from inside the republic
from natural or legal Egyptian persons. It also stated that they shall deposit the monies in the
bank account of the association and that it allocates and spends these monies for the purposes
they have been raised and collected for.
6) The draft law determined the bodies that each association comprises and how these bodies are
formed. The draft prohibited combining between membership of the board of directors of the
association and working in the Administrative Entity or any other public entities supervising,
guiding or monitoring the association and its funding because it is considered a conflict of
interest.
7) The draft law organized the methods of terminating and dissolving the board of directors of an
association and assigned it to the judiciary in accordance with the provisions of the constitutions.
It mandated the competent court to rule based on the request from the Administrative Entity to
either terminate the board of directors, dissolve the association , appoint a liquidator of its
finances based on urgency and with brief procedure. That shall be in specific cases the most
important of which is that it is proven that the association practices legally prohibited activities,
or that the association continues to practice any of the stated violations, and not rectifying the
notes. That is also the case when the association receives funding from an external entity without
obtai ning the necessary permit and starts to spend it in violation to the provisions of the law. It
also applies when t he association violates the provisions related to receipt of funds or collection of
donations from inside the Republic.

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8) The draft law allowed acquiring the public benefit status via a resolution from the Competent
Minister to any association that aims at achieving a public interest when or after it is established
based on a request from the association in accordance with the controls set forth in the Executive
Regulations of this law. That is providing that a resolution from the Prime Minister define the
public authority privileges of public benefit associations, especially the non -seizure of part of or
all their funds, the non -acquisition of these monies by obsolescence and the possibility of
expropriation of properties for the public benefit to fulfill purposes of the association .
9) The draft law permitted the establishment of a national foundation by allocating a sum of money
in line with the purpose of its establishment and the size of envisaged activities but shall not be
less than ten thousand pounds upon establishment for a defined or indefinite period of time. It
also permitt ed the establishment of a national foundation by one or more founders of natural or
legal persons or both. Founders shall develop articles of association, which the draft law set the
information that it includes.
10) The draft law also permitted the f oreign nongovernmental organizations to perform one or more
activities of the activities of associations and National foundations subject to the provisions of this
law and its rules for a defined term of three years renewable. The draft law prohibited the foreign
N GOs from practicing any work in the Republic of Egypt except after the receipt of a permit from
the concerned national authority working on the organization of foreign NGOs work. The project
defined the national authority, its formation, mandate, and admin istrative structure.
11) The draft law has organized the establishment, formation, and resources of the National
Associations and Foundations Support Fund , which aims at providing the financial support for
the sustainability of the activities of the ci vil associations and foundations and the unions
established in accordance with the provisions of the law. The draft law also assigned the executive
regulation to define the mandate of the fund.
12) In order to strengthen the private associations and foundations, the draft law ordered the civil
associations and foundations to assemble and gather in specialized or regional federations. The
draft law determined the formation of each federation of these federations. The project also
organized the provisions of the General Federation of Civil Associations and Foundations.
13) Finally, the draft law stipulated on the punishments resulting from the violation of the provisions
of the law. It has restricted the punishments to the actions that form a threat to the national
security of the country and violation of the trust of the donors. It thus limits the crimes as much
as possible and provides the best atmosphere for civil work, protects the national security, and
keeps the law and order. That is all based on the international crit eria in the organization of
association.

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We the underlined parliament members have the honor to present this draft law to the Speaker of the
Parliament to kindly refer it to the competent committee in preparation for presenting and discussing it in
the pa rliament.

On behalf of the parliament members:

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36
Republic of Egy0t
The Parliament
General Secretariat

Dear Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahab
General Secretary of the Committees Affairs

I am hereby enclosing the original version of the draft law presented by mor e than 10% of the parliament
members with regard to the organization of the work of civil associations and other public entities
performing work in the field of civil work. The draft law has been referred by the parliament in its session
number 96 for the ordinary session of the first legislative term on Tuesday Sep 6, 2016 to a joint
committee from the Social Solidarity, Family, and Disabled Committee and the Office of Constitutional
and Legislative Affairs.
Kindly give instructions of proceeding with the necessary.

Sincerely yours,
Parliament Deputy Secretary General
Consultant Mohammed Nassr

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Dear Dr. Abdul Hadi Ahmed Al Qasabi
Head of the Social Solidarity, Family, and Disabled Committee

I would like to hereby inform you that the Parliament in its session on Sep 6, 2016 to refer the draft law of
organization of the work of civil associations and other public entities performing work in the field of civil
work presented by more than 10% of the members of the parliament to a joint committee from the Social
Solidarity, Family, and Disabled Committee and the Office of Constitutional and Legislative Affairs.
Kindly be informed and proceed with the necessary procedures.

Sincerely yours,
Speake r of the Parliament
Dr. Ali Abdul Aal

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38

Dear Mr. Bahaa Addin Abu Shaqah
Head of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee

I would like to hereby inform you that the Parliament in its session on Sep 6, 2016 to refer the draft law of
organization of the work of civil associations and other public entities performing work in the field of civil
work presented by more than 10% of the members of the parliament to a joint committee from the Social
Solidarity, Family, and Disabled Committee and the Office of Constitutional and Legislative Affairs.
Kindly be informed and proceed with the necessary procedures.

Sincerely yours,
Speaker of the Parliament
Dr. Ali Abdul Aal