Home Integrator
MERED Unveils Strategic Vision for Saudi Arabia at Saudi Giga Projects 2025
MERED outlined its long-term investment plans and strategic vision for Saudi Arabia at Saudi Giga Projects 2025 in Riyadh. The event, a key platform aligned with Vision 2030, brought together government bodies, giga project leaders, and private sector executives to discuss development, contracting, and talent-building opportunities within the Kingdom’s fast-growing construction and real estate sectors. As part of MERED’s participation, CEO Michael Belton joined a fireside chat where he shared insights into the company’s market entry approach and growth plans for the Saudi market.
“The Kingdom’s rapid urban and infrastructure growth is reshaping residential demand and creating new opportunities for long-term development,” said Michael Belton, CEO of MERED. “Vision 2030 and ongoing economic diversification are driving strong demand across residential, retail, commercial, and hospitality sectors, supported by investor-friendly reforms. In major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, we’re seeing increased interest in premium and luxury living, as well as growing demand for Class A office spaces that reflect the ambitions of a modern business environment. MERED is well-positioned to meet these changing market needs through high-quality, innovative developments that offer lasting value.”
Yazan Al-Khalidi, Chief Commercial Director at MERED, joined a panel alongside leading developers, consultants, and contractors to discuss workforce capabilities and the skills required to deliver Saudi Arabia’s giga projects efficiently and at scale. The Kingdom’s real estate sector is projected to contribute 10% to GDP by 2030, while non-oil economic activity now accounts for over 50% of national GDP. Knight Frank’s Saudi Report 2025 reveals that 93% of high-income Saudi nationals are actively seeking to buy property, reinforcing the country’s ambition to build a competitive luxury real estate market.
Alongside its growth plans in Saudi Arabia, MERED is supporting the development of future architectural talent in line with the region’s broader goal of equipping young people with in-demand skills. As part of this effort, the company is sponsoring a select group of students to attend the Pininfarina Architecture Summer School in Turin this July, through its partnership with the prestigious Pininfarina Academy, founded by the renowned Italian design house. The program offers hands-on training and exposure to international design practices, giving participants valuable experience they can apply to architectural projects across the region.
MERED’s participation underscores its broader commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s real estate ambitions through innovation, sustainability, and knowledge transfer. With a pipeline of projects already launched in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including the 290-meter ICONIC Residences designed by Pininfarina, the brand is well-positioned to introduce high-end, future-ready developments to the Saudi market.
Home Integrator
A CASSINA EDIT FOR RAMADAN AND EID GIFTING
Ramadan is a season of reflection, generosity and thoughtful gestures. As families and friends mark the holy month, the act of giving becomes a meaningful way to express care and appreciation, with gifts chosen not only for their beauty but for the moments they accompany.
Founded in Meda in 1927, Cassina has long shaped the language of contemporary living, guided by a philosophy rooted in research, innovation and fine craftsmanship. This Ramadan and Eid, Cassina presents a curated edit celebrating the art of thoughtful gifting, pieces designed to bring warmth, elegance and quiet sophistication into the home.
Each piece reflects Cassina’s enduring design language, where tradition and modernity exist in balance, inviting homes across Dubai to celebrate with gifts designed not only to be given, but to be lived with.
Invitation to Host
Serving Cart by Bodil Kjær – Cassina Details
Originally conceived in 1963 for the modern living room, Bodil Kjær’s versatile Serving Cart has been masterfully restored and updated by Cassina. Its refined structure transitions effortlessly from presenting dates and Arabic coffee at iftar to displaying desserts during Eid gatherings. Both practical and refined, it enhances hospitality with understated elegance.

The Art of the Table
Le Monde de Charlotte Perriand by Charlotte Perriand – Cassina Details

Created in partnership with Ginori 1735, this hand-decorated fine porcelain tableware draws inspiration from Charlotte Perriand’s photography and personal archive. Elements of nature meet the designer’s creative sensibility in a refined expression of craftsmanship, offering the perfect proposal to embellish any dinner table.
D’O – Galà dinnerset & D’O – Island table matby Davide Oldani – Cassina Details
Michelin-starred chef Davide Oldani’s design is focused on functionality. The D’O – Galà dinner set is characterised by elegance and practicality, while the D’O – Island table mat adds value to the table itself, covering the structure as little as possible with its discreet, uneven shape, underling the centrality of the table during Ramadan.

Glass with Legacy
Sestiere vases by Patricia Urquiola – Cassina Details

A tribute to Venetian tradition, Sestiere reinterprets Murano glassmaking through contemporary design. Each blown glass vase is encased in hand-applied ‘morise’, creating a visible dialogue between technique and form. No two pieces are identical, each one a unique, tangible expression of craftsmanship, ideal for Eid gifting.
Colourdisc by Bethan Laura Wood – Cassina Details
Produced by Venini, British designer Bethan Laura Wood’s Colourdisc celebrates the fusion of centuries-old Murano glass with contemporary creativity. Available as a fruit bowl or vase, it introduces bold character to festive interiors.

Atmosphere & Accent
Bougeoir La Tourette candelstick by Le Corbusier – Cassina Details

Defined by sleek bronze geometry, this minimalist candlestick illuminates the table with timeless precision. A subtle yet powerful accent, it enhances both suhoor intimacy and Eid celebration with architectural refinement.
Rigadino rug by Patricia Urquiola – Cassina Details
Inspired by historic Venetian handiwork, Rigadino translates traditional craftsmanship into a contemporary textile language. Its refined pattern in four colourways introduces depth and subtle elegance, grounding lounge and dining settings with warmth and texture.

Home Integrator
‘SHARE THE JOY, GIVE A TOY’ RETURNS THIS RAMADAN 2026 TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN NEED ACROSS THE UAE

Landmark Leisure, the entertainment division of the Landmark Group, is pleased to announce the return of its CSR initiative, ‘Share the Joy, Give a Toy’ by its flagship brand, Fun City Arabia.
This event is being organized in association with Emirates Red Crescent and Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, bringing together those who share a common goal of compassion, responsible giving, and sustainability. This community-based initiative, inspired by the spirit of Ramadan, aims to collect preloved toys that are in usable condition. These toys will then be carefully collected and distributed through Emirates Red Crescent and Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, ensuring that they reach underprivileged children in the UAE. In addition to giving toys a second life, this initiative also supports the cause of sustainable consumption and responsible reuse.
Under the initiative, families can drop off pre-loved toys at participating Fun City locations across the UAE, including Fun City at Arabian Centre, Mercato Mall, Century Mall (Mamzar), Ibn Battuta Mall, Oasis Centre, Nad Al Sheba Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Dalma Mall, Al Falah Central Mall, Al Seef Village Mall, Marina Mall, Kalba Mall, Oasis Sharjah, Bawadi Mall, and Al Hamra Mall & Fun Block at Zero6 Mall, Fujairah Mall, Souq Al Jami, Barari Outlet Mall, Fun Works, and Tridom in UAE and Fun Ville at Al Khor Mall, Ezdan Mall (Al Gharafa), Al Asmakh Mall, Barwa Village, Ezdan Mall (Wakrah), Barwa City, and Abu Sidra Mall in Qatar.
These stores were chosen for easy access, enabling families and visitors to participate and bring joy to children who need them. With multiple drop-off points across the city, Landmark Leisure aims to make the act of giving more accessible and impactful.
Speaking about this initiative, Silvio Liedtke, CEO of Landmark Leisure, GCC and India, said: “Ramadan is a time when the community comes together through acts of kindness and generosity. ‘Share the Joy, Give a Toy’ is a platform that encourages families to be a part of this act of kindness by donating toys that can bring joy to children in need. This Ramadan, we are delighted to continue this initiative with our partners and the community, and we look forward to seeing families come together to share the joy of giving.”
The initiative invites guests across the UAE to come together and make a meaningful difference through small acts of generosity this Ramadan.
Home Feature
HOW MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IS REDEFINING PROJECT DELIVERY IN THE GCC
By Mohamed Salah Seguen, CEO, Access Consult | Group CEO, Excellence Consortium

Across the GCC, the definition of project success has fundamentally shifted. Clients no longer evaluate performance solely through architectural expression or engineering precision. They assess speed to market, approval certainty, execution readiness, sustainability alignment, and cost predictability. In markets shaped by the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and nationwide smart city initiatives, complexity has increased while tolerance for inefficiency has declined. In this environment, multidisciplinary collaboration has moved from a best practice to a structural necessity.
For decades, construction projects followed a fragmented sequence. Architects developed concepts, engineers refined systems, contractors priced and executed, and supervision teams monitored progress. Each discipline operated within its own perimeter, often leading to misalignment, redesign, delays, and disputes. The region’s current growth trajectory no longer supports that model. What is emerging instead is a connected delivery system built on integrated project delivery principles, where architecture, engineering, project management, and construction consultancy operate within one coordinated framework from inception to handover.
From silos to integrated delivery systems
This shift represents more than organizational restructuring. It reflects a transition from siloed thinking to a project-first mentality. Multidisciplinary teams are formed at the earliest stage, aligning objectives around collective project outcomes rather than individual scope boundaries. Early contractor involvement enhances constructability during design development, allowing concurrent workflows instead of sequential ones. Owners participate more actively in decision-making, reducing bottlenecks that traditionally stall progress. Risk and reward structures increasingly encourage collaboration rather than adversarial positioning.
Technology has enabled this transformation, but does not replace governance. Building Information Modeling is rapidly becoming standard practice, with industry forecasts indicating that by 2026, nearly 65% of projects will rely on BIM as their primary coordination environment. However, BIM alone does not guarantee integration. It must operate within structured digital design management platforms that enforce version control, approval workflows, and real-time coordination protocols. When properly governed, this environment becomes a single source of truth that connects all disciplines and reduces duplication.

Measurable impact through digital integration
The measurable impact of digital integration is increasingly evident. Projects delivered through structured multidisciplinary coordination frequently achieve 20% to 50% reductions in design development and authority approval lead times. Construction timelines improve by 20% to 30% when coordination cycles are shortened and decision pathways are clarified. These gains are not the result of faster drafting. They stem from removing systemic friction between disciplines.
Digital twin technology is further strengthening this ecosystem. During construction, a digital twin synchronizes on-site activities with virtual models, allowing early clash detection, live progress tracking, and predictive risk analysis. When integrated with drone mapping, RFID material tracking, and automated dashboards, deviations from schedule or specification become visible immediately. Global studies on Industry 4.0 technologies show reductions of up to 30% in labour productivity losses and measurable declines in downtime when digital twins are embedded into operations. In the UAE, where the construction market is projected to approach $96 billion by 2030, such efficiencies are no longer optional. They define competitive positioning.
An example of this approach is Guzel Towers in Jumeirah Village Triangle. The project involved complex high-rise residential coordination, mixed-use podium integration, and strict authority compliance within compressed timelines. Through BIM-led collaboration and unified technical governance, design issues were resolved earlier, façade intent remained intact, and construction sequencing aligned closely with execution on site, enabling faster delivery with stronger certainty.
Trends Shaping Architecture, Consultancy, and Delivery
Approval Readiness: Authorities expect submissions that demonstrate coordinated systems, code compliance, and execution feasibility from the outset. Projects that treat regulatory approval as a parallel strategic track rather than a final checkpoint secure faster clearance and stronger stakeholder confidence. Execution-aware design has therefore become a competitive differentiator. Drawings are no longer judged solely by aesthetic merit but by their constructability, clarity, and alignment with site realities.

BIM maturity and digital governance have become baseline expectations. Developers and government entities increasingly require structured reporting environments, data transparency, and auditable workflows. Automated quality assurance templates now allow site managers to generate standardized reports instantly, enabling all stakeholders to review progress and identify emerging issues. This level of transparency improves accountability and shortens corrective action cycles.
Accelerated time-to-market remains a central pressure across regional real estate development. With 390,000 residential units projected across the UAE between 2026 and 2030, delivery models must scale without proportionally increasing risk exposure. Integrated team structures support parallel processing, modular construction strategies, and industrialized fabrication methods that compress schedules while preserving quality.
Developers and government entities increasingly require structured reporting environments, data transparency, and auditable workflows. Automated quality assurance templates now allow site managers to generate standardized reports instantly, enabling all stakeholders to review progress and identify emerging issues. This level of transparency improves accountability and shortens corrective action cycles.
The evolving role of the consultant
Rather than operating solely as designers or supervisors, consultancies increasingly function as orchestrators of complex ecosystems. They align architecture, engineering, regulatory pathways, digital governance, and execution strategy within one managed framework. This orchestrator model enhances proactive risk mitigation, identifying potential geotechnical, supply chain, or compliance challenges before they escalate into financial or schedule impacts.
In today’s high-velocity environment, multidisciplinary collaboration is the operational backbone of resilient project delivery. When architecture, engineering, digital coordination, and construction consultancy operate as a unified system, projects achieve faster approvals, clearer accountability, and stronger execution outcomes. That alignment defines the consultancy model of the future and ensures that regional development ambitions are delivered with both speed and certainty.
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