By Amir H Greiss Founder & CEO, SharpMinds Consulting Engineers

A Region Building at Scale

Across the Middle East, construction is advancing at a pace that reflects both the scale of regional ambition and the complexity of delivering it. The project pipeline has grown to over $4 trillion, with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for a $1.5 trillion backlog of unawarded work, according to real estate consultancy JLL. The appetite for development is clear. Translating that into consistent delivery performance, however, remains a work in progress.

A 2025 PwC survey of capital projects and infrastructure professionals found that 81% of respondents experienced cost overruns in the past year. Separate research by Alvarez & Marsal puts the figure even higher, with 85% of projects in the MENA region running over budget, averaging 28% above initial estimates. Timelines present a similar picture: on average, regional projects take 83% longer than planned, compared to a 68% overrun globally. These are patterns that point to structural challenges within the delivery process, not isolated incidents.

Smarter Design Delivers More Efficient Buildings

Efficiency in construction is not primarily a procurement issue, it happens during design phase. A building that proves expensive to construct was typically costly from its earliest concept as it simply takes a quantity survey and several months to surface that reality.

Engineers and architects who consistently deliver within budget tend to achieve this through considered decisions at concept stage: a sound understanding of structural logic, selection of systems that perform over time, and early stress-testing of assumptions before they are embedded in working drawings.

Dubai’s January 2024 mandate requiring Building Information Modelling (BIM) for certain building permit applications reflects a growing regulatory recognition of this principle. BIM integrates coordination and clash detection into the design process rather than leaving those issues to be resolved on-site, where corrections carry significantly higher costs. The underlying logic holds beyond software: investing analytical effort early in a project is consistently more economical than addressing challenges during construction.

Understanding Client Priorities at Design Stage Pays Off

Client alignment is equally important and, at present, not always given sufficient attention. Cost overruns in the region are frequently linked to owner-imposed variations. PwC’s 2025 survey identified these as the fourth most common driver of overruns, cited by 35% of respondents changes requested mid-construction by clients who were not fully engaged during the design phase.

This is not solely a client challenge. It also reflects an industry dynamic in which the brief is sometimes treated as an administrative step rather than a genuine discovery process. When a client’s core priorities operational flexibility, tenant experience, future adaptability  are understood and embedded in the design from the outset, late-stage changes become less frequent and considerably less costly when they do arise.

The Long-Term Return on Investment Case

Lifecycle value is another dimension that warrants greater attention in regional project conversations. The growing emphasis on sustainability certifications from LEED to Estidama is beginning to orient some projects toward longer-term thinking. The UAE alone hosts the highest concentration of LEED-certified buildings globally, with over 2,100 green-certified structures.

Smarter design does not mean more expensive design. It means design where complexity is purposeful where every material choice, structural system, and mechanical specification has been evaluated against performance criteria and long-term operational reality.

Addressing the Challenges at the Right Stage

The factors constraining project performance in the region are broadly understood: insufficient early-stage coordination, limited client engagement during design, and decisions that are not adequately tested against long-term operational needs. The greater opportunity lies in addressing these consistently at the stage where it is most effective before construction begins, rather than during it.

With the regional construction market projected to reach over $712 billion by 2033, the demands placed on project teams will continue to grow. Meeting those demands means establishing stronger processes around design quality, client alignment, and lifecycle performance not as aspirational targets, but as standard practice. The evidence for why this matters already exists. The next step is applying it with greater consistency across the industry.

Casagrand HERMINA, the debut UAE development by leading real estate developer Casagrand, draws on more than 22 years of residential development experience and a portfolio of over 180 completed and ongoing projects across India.

This established track record has translated into strong investor confidence, with the development now surpassing the 50% sales milestone, reflecting demand for experienced, delivery-led developers in the UAE off-plan market.

The momentum has been further reinforced by Casagrand HERMINA being named “Off-Plan Project of the Year” at the Gulf Business Real Estate Summit & Awards 2026, marking recognition of the development’s positioning, design approach, and overall proposition within the residential market.

Luthfullah K, Director Dubai, Casagrand, said: “Surpassing the 50% sales milestone at Casagrand HERMINA is incredibly rewarding, and it is gratifying to see that legacy resonate in our first development in the UAE. It is a reflection of the trust that investors and homebuyers have placed in our vision. For more than 22 years, we have been committed to creating homes and communities that put people first. We are grateful for the confidence shown in Casagrand HERMINA and remain dedicated to delivering a waterfront community that reflects the quality, care, and customer-first approach that have earned us the trust of more than 55,000 families.”

Located at Dubai Islands, Casagrand HERMINA continues to attract sustained interest from regional and international buyers seeking long-term value in a waterfront residential destination. The sales performance reflects demand for developers with established delivery credentials, operational scale, and execution capability.

The strong performance of Casagrand HERMINA reinforces Casagrand’s long-term commitment to the UAE market. The project forms part of the company’s broader regional growth strategy, with more than 6 million sq. ft. of planned residential and mixed-use developments in the UAE over the next three years.

Investor demand continues to come from a diverse buyer base across the UAE, GCC, India, Europe, Canada, and the United States, with participation from investors prioritising long-term appreciation, product quality, and developer credibility.

Casagrand HERMINA remains on track for completion in Q2 2028, with construction progressing at pace as the project continues to take shape

With an estimated 1.2 billion women expected to be menopausal or postmenopausal by 2030 and approximately 47 million women entering menopause each year, health experts are calling for greater awareness of one of the most common yet often overlooked symptoms of menopause, sleep disruption.

Despite impacting millions of women worldwide, menopause continues to be surrounded by stigma and remains one of the least discussed areas of women’s health. Sleep challenges, in particular, are emerging as a significant concern. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), more than 40% of women in perimenopause experience sleep problems, while between 52% and 64% of postmenopausal women struggle to achieve restorative sleep.

The scale of the issue is further highlighted by research involving women who had experienced their final menstrual period within the previous three years on behalf of REST. The study found that 94.5% reported difficulty sleeping, 92% experienced forgetfulness, 87% reported irritability, 85.5% experienced night sweats, and 83% suffered from hot flashes.

Hot flashes and night sweats are among the leading causes of sleep interruption during menopause. Medical experts explain that declining estrogen levels can make the body’s temperature regulation system more sensitive, triggering sudden feelings of intense heat that frequently disrupt sleep. As a result, maintaining a cool and comfortable sleeping environment has become increasingly important for women navigating menopause.

Responding to this growing need, innovative cooling sleep technologies are helping women improve sleep quality and manage menopause-related discomfort. Among these solutions is the Evercool Cooling Comforter, designed to regulate temperature throughout the night by rapidly absorbing and transferring body heat. Developed using advanced cooling fabric technology, the material is engineered to remain cooler than conventional fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, silk, and Tencel, helping to reduce heat accumulation that can contribute to nighttime discomfort.

In addition to its cooling capabilities, the comforter features moisture-wicking properties designed to draw excess humidity away from the body and accelerate evaporation, helping users stay dry during episodes of night sweats. The ultra-soft microdenier fabric also delivers a smooth and comfortable sleeping experience, while its cooling performance is achieved without the use of chemical additives, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.

As awareness around menopause and women’s health continues to grow globally, sleep is increasingly being recognized as a critical component of overall wellbeing. With millions of women experiencing disrupted sleep due to hot flashes and night sweats, cooling sleep solutions are emerging as an important tool in helping women achieve more comfortable, restorative rest during one of life’s most significant transitions.