How compliance builds resilient communities: Sawsan Dahham on GCC Fire and Life Safety
Iain Hoey
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Sawsan Dahham, CEO of SIENA, examines how GCC nations address Fire and Life Safety in giga-projects, skyscrapers, rehabilitation, interiors and complex engineering landscapes
The built environment is a powerful expression of a country’s ambitions and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is relentlessly pursuing innovation, distinction and advancement in everything it sets out to achieve.
The construction sector in this region reached an all-time high last year, placing GCC countries at the forefront of global construction leadership.
What has fuelled this remarkable boom are the massive investments in giga-projects such as Neom (KSA), the Red Sea Global (KSA) and King Salman Park (KSA), along with a drivefor revolutionary designs showcased by landmarks like the Museum of the Future (Dubai-UAE), the Louvre Abu Dhabi (UAE) and the National Museum of Qatar.
Designing with purpose
Driven by their ambition to make their countries among the most advanced, outstanding and safest in the world, GCC governments are defining global construction trends by building bigger, bolder and more complex projects which are often accompanied by a wealth of engineering challenges.
One of those challenges is Fire and Life Safety (FLS).
To secure safety in the built environment, the GCC has elevated the FLS industry from a secondary concern to a top priority, aligning it with the undeniable growth and prosperity visions set for their nations.
The rise of the FLS industry is evident through several initiatives: empowering Civil Defense authorities, developing their own country-specific codes to follow while also mandating strict compliance with international codes and standards such as NFPA, investing in advanced safety systems and equipment and promoting education and awareness through recognised NFPA trainings and annual FLS conferences and expos like Intersec and the IFSJ Leader in Fire & Safety Conference.
If you visit any GCC country, you will see there are virtually no limits to the type, size, or form of construction design.
The region has set world records by turning structures into outstanding landmarks and exceptional feats of engineering.
Examples include the Holy Makkah in Saudi Arabia, home to the world’s largest human assembly with an average of 2.5 million pilgrims during Hajj; the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which set the world height record in 2012 at 828 m; and the upcoming Jeddah Tower, currently under construction and projected to reach around 1 km, which is set to claim a new record.
The GCC also combines distinguished design with world-class services, as seen in Hamad International Airport, repeatedly ranked the best airport in the world, including this year.
These projects, along with many others, are striking examples of the complex FLS challenges that must be properly addressed and resolved through detailed, analytical approaches, ensuring robust and effective safety solutions.
Unparalleled Use
The unique usage and identity of certain projects make them distinctive case studies that require tailored approaches to achieve the safety performance targets set forth by the prescriptive requirements of codes and standards.
Haram Makkah is a prime example; there is no local or international life safety code that provides detailed prescriptive requirements for such a structure in terms of occupancy numbers and purpose of use.
To ensure the safety of pilgrims during peak Hajj seasons in the event of a fire or similar incident, many parameters must be taken into consideration, such as the cultural background of pilgrims, their age, their walking speed, their awareness level and their prior exposure to emergency procedures.
Relying solely on code requirements and performance-based studies in such cases will never be sufficient.
Rapid, coordinated human intervention by highly trained personnel deployed around the property is imperative to ensure the safety of people at all times.
The integration of a compliant engineering design, effective on-ground management and the requirements of the Authorities Having Jurisdiction has consistently played a vital role in the success of the Hajj season, including safeguarding against fire and similar events.
Building for royals and VIPs
Several GCC buildings are known for their upscale functions and majestic spaces, especially when the building is owned or used by Royals or VIPs.
Although the minimum required life safety remains the same regardless of the social status of the property users, the relationship between the area, the actual occupant load and the usage of the space is what makes these buildings exceptional when applying certain prescriptive code requirements, such as occupant load calculation and means of egress assessment.
An area that could accommodate hundreds of people in buildings open to the general public, such as chain restaurants or multi-purpose halls, may host fewerthan fifty people in private restaurants or closed Majlis spaces.
In such cases, strictly applying the most code requirements may lead to unnecessary overdesign in several aspects of the project.
Modern skyscrapers
The GCC is home to many skyscrapers ranked among the tallest and most iconic in the world.
One of the key challenges in such buildings is ensuring the continuity of means of egress and securing safe, effective evacuation routes throughout the entire structure.
The level of complexity increases when a tower is designed with irregular shapes or positioned above a large-scale podium.
Take the Raffles and Fairmont (Katara Towers) in Doha, for example, the only way to align the continuity of exit stairs from the top of the towers to the level of exit discharge is by introducing code-compliant stair transfers and in order to satisfy exit discharge requirements, exit passageways must also be incorporated.
Gigantic built-up area
Mega complexes are characterised by their massive built-up areas, resulting in long and complex egress paths and excessive travel distances to reach the nearest exit.
When resolving this issue through prescriptive solutions; such as shortening the travel distance by adding an additional exit, extending the nearest exit, or architecturally reducing the excess in egress path; proves impractical, an engineering study should be carried out to demonstrate that tenable conditions are maintained throughout the entire evacuation and rescue period.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and egress time calculations (Pathfinder) are commonly conducted to ensure compliance on a case-by-case basis.
This type of engineering validation is often adopted for shopping malls, stadiums and assembly venues, for which the GCC is well known.
Outstanding interiors
The region is recognised by its lavish interior designs that leave people in awe; it is part of the touristic experience and reflects the governments’ visions of excellence.
However, implementing mandatory fire protection systems to maintain life safety can, at times, affect the unique identity of interior architecture.
Customising hose-reel and portable fire extinguisher cabinets to blend with the finishes is often feasible, but the real challenge arises with sprinklers; in certain cases, their exceptional removal from a space may be mandated.
Such removal should be carefully evaluated and compensated with additional forms of protection and measures to minimise fire risks.
Another common interior architecture challenge is the protection of atriums.
These beautiful, expansive floor openings enhance building aspects by adding brightness, openness, indulgence and a sense of belonging to any space.
However, they also increase the complexity of fire safety requirements and must be carefully designed and protected to prevent the channeling of heat, smoke and toxic gases, ensuring that life safety is never compromised for the sake of outstanding interiors.
Exceptional sites
Whether due to land topography, landscape design, building geometry, or materials used, site access for firefighters’ operations is becoming increasingly complex.
Strict compliance with standard code requirements for firefighter access is no longer straightforward.
Up-to-date solutions are available in the market, including equipment and trucks that facilitate firefighters’ work; however, shifting to such equipment while overlooking the applicable code requirements, without conducting a proper site assessment and establishing an operational strategy for firefighters will not only hinder their operations and delay their intervention, but also endanger their lives and the lives of occupants.
Existing structures rehabilitation
Driven by their social infrastructure needs, ambitious tourism plans and major international events, the GCC region is committed to a makeover for many existing structures.
The compliance complexity of rehabilitation works depends on both the rehabilitation category and the classification of the existing building, including its occupancy type and fire risk category.
From airports such as King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and Dubai International Airport, to stadiums and building complexes, rehabilitation work assessments should take into account the applicable code requirements along with the site condition and operational status of the existing building.
Neglecting any aspect can lead to safety gaps, operational challenges and non-compliance issues.
Building for diversity
Fire and Life Safety strategies must reflect the intended design objectives, accommodate diverse usage requirements and meet client expectations, while emphasising the critical importance of correctly implementing the minimum codes and standards from early concept through site completion and project operation.
Building design and execution must address this diversity by thoroughly understanding every aspect of the regulatory framework, ensuring solutions that integrate all engineering disciplines while maintaining an uncompromised Fire and Life Safety ecosystem.
Every project is a new mission to embed these principles.
It is our responsibility to act, starting now.
About the Author
Sawsan is the CEO and Founder of SIENA, she brings 19 years of expertise in fire and life safety, having led mega projects from design to completion, and holds deep proficiency in both international and local fire codes and standards.
Sawsan is passionate about sharing her knowledge and raising awareness through articles and public speaking engagements, actively contributing to the advancement of fire safety practices.
Since 2017, she has served as an NFPA instructor and has delivered numerous training sessions.
In addition, she has served on awards juries and technical committees and was featured by NFPA as an exciting speaker during their 2025 Conference and Expo.