Cost Planning · Measurement · Procurement Insight

Hi, I'm Ahmed Saad

Cost Planning. Data Intelligence. Better Decisions.

A construction cost management professional specialising in cost planning, measurement and commercial analysis, with 13 years across Egypt and Saudi Arabia. I combine that cost expertise with data analysis and Power BI reporting, so decision-makers can see where cost stands, keep it under control and make better-informed procurement decisions. Today I'm Senior Cost Engineer with Parsons, supporting KIDANA's Holy Sites Development Programme.

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13
Years of experience
SAR 6B+
Largest project worked on
45+
Projects cost-planned

About me

From cost planning to decision intelligence.

Cost planning is more than estimating what a project will cost. It sets the commercial foundation for informed decisions across the project lifecycle, from design development to procurement and cost control.

My approach combines consistent measurement and RICS guidance with recognised standards and classification systems: NRM and CSI MasterFormat, with ICMS and IPMS where applicable. Benchmarking and data analytics then turn that cost information into insight teams can act on.

What sets me apart: I extend that expertise through data analysis and Power BI reporting, structuring cost and project data into clear KPIs, trends and variance analysis so stakeholders get a clear view of cost. For me, data is most valuable when it helps people understand what is happening, why it matters, and where decisions are needed.

I believe better measurement leads to better decisions, and better decisions create lasting value.

01 · Core

Cost planning & measurement

Feasibility estimates, elemental cost plans, quantity measurement and Bills of Quantities, built on a clear understanding of project scope.

02 · Method

Standards & consistency

Structured measurement, recognised cost planning guidance and consistent classification, for transparent, comparable and defensible cost information.

03 · Evolution

Cost intelligence & optimisation

Benchmarking and cost analysis, supported by EVM and Power BI reporting, to identify variances, improve cost visibility and inform decisions, including value engineering where appropriate.

04 · Impact

Procurement & supply chain excellence

Cost insights that support procurement decisions and contribute to supply chain excellence.

= Better project outcomes

Reliable cost plans · Informed decisions · Stronger procurement

Bilingual

Arabic and English, client and site-side.

Based in Makkah

KSA and Egypt project experience.

From today back to 2013

From measurement to commercial impact.

Every stage of my career has strengthened how I measure cost, understand commercial drivers, and support better project decisions.

    Scroll to walk through the journey ↓

    1. Next

      What's next

      Moving into a management role: leading cost and commercial teams, and using reliable cost information and procurement insight to shape project decisions.

      • Cost Management
      • Commercial Leadership
      • Team Leadership
    2. Stage 3 · Cost Intelligence & Supply Chain Excellence

      Supply chain excellence, Holy Sites Programme

      Senior Cost Engineer, Supply Chain Excellence, Holy Sites Programme (Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina): turning supply chain data into clearer decisions for senior management.

      • Own the KPI framework and trend analysis for every supply chain function.
      • Built governed pipelines from separate procurement systems into one Power BI dashboard.
      • Appointed supply chain focal point for KIDANA's data warehouse, delivered by a national technology provider: coordinate with its data team and validate supply chain data.
      • Lead weekly and monthly performance reviews: risks and control gaps raised, actions tracked to closure.
      • Manage strategic supply chain initiatives with Big Four consultants, from development to implementation, and report progress to senior management of KIDANA's Strategy department.
      • Executive reporting that ties procurement and cost performance to programme objectives.

      Outcome: leadership reviews start from one trusted dataset, not from reconciling reports.

      • Supply chain excellence
      • KPI framework
      • Governance
      • Power BI
    3. Stage 2 · Cost Planning & Commercial Management

      SAR 6B+ SEVEN giga-project

      BIM5D & Reporting Engineer on an entertainment giga-project: cost, schedule and progress brought into one reporting line.

      • Power BI dashboards with EVM (CPI, SPI, variance) for every work package, with planned-vs-actual and scenario analysis.
      • Led the 5D BIM rollout on NRM1, CSI MasterFormat and OmniClass, so quantities came from the model and design–QS rework dropped.

      Outcome: executives and consultants worked from one consistent view of package performance.

      • EVM
      • 5D BIM
      • Power BI
    4. Stage 2 · Cost Planning & Commercial Management

      Pre-contract cost lead: QS Team Leader to Section Head

      Joined ATA in Riyadh to lead cost management on high-rise and commercial towers (SAR 50M – 500M). Promoted to QS Section Head in Oct 2023.

      • Cost estimates, BOQs and technical specifications for 45+ projects, to CSI MasterFormat and NRM2, with BOQ and cost analysis in Excel.
      • Cost-option appraisals for value-engineering workshops, so clients chose design options with the budget impact in front of them.
      • Mentored junior QSs and set measurement and QC standards.
      • Cost planning
      • Value engineering
      • Team leadership
    5. Stage 1 · Quantity Surveying & Measurement

      USD 300M+ LSTK development

      Senior Surveyor Engineer for the main contractor: survey QC, RFIs and NCRs, and quantity abstracts for subcontractor measurement across five disciplines.

      • LSTK
      • Subcontract measurement
    6. Stage 1 · Quantity Surveying & Measurement

      Technical Office Engineer, owner side

      Moved to the client side on water and wastewater infrastructure: verified contractor quantities and works before acceptance.

      • Quantity verification
      • As-built
    7. Stage 1 · Quantity Surveying & Measurement

      Quantity Surveyor, Minya – Ras Ghareb highway

      Take-off and measurement for interim payments on a second highway contract, contractor side.

      • Quantity take-off
      • Interim payments
    8. Stage 1 · Quantity Surveying & Measurement

      First site: highway infrastructure

      Quantity Surveyor on the Ring Road Oasis highway in Fayoum: measured earthworks for interim payments and procurement quantities.

      • Earthworks
      • Civil 3D

    Qualifications & skills

    What I bring to a cost and commercial team.

    Commercial & Cost Management

    • Cost planning
    • Feasibility estimates
    • Elemental cost plans
    • BOQ production
    • Value engineering
    • Earned Value Management
    • Contract management

    Standards & Methods

    • NRM1
    • NRM2
    • RICS SMM
    • CSI MasterFormat
    • OmniClass
    • IPMS
    • ICMS
    • FIDIC
    • MIDP

    Business Intelligence & Decision Support

    • Power BI
    • DAX
    • Power Query
    • Power Pivot
    • Advanced Excel
    • Executive reporting
    • Stakeholder alignment

    Strategic Procurement

    • Spend analysis
    • Sourcing & category management
    • Tender analysis
    • SAP Ariba
    • SAP S/4HANA

    Supply Chain Excellence & Governance

    • Supply chain performance
    • KPI frameworks
    • Performance reviews
    • Procurement governance
    • Process improvement
    • Data governance
    • Initiative delivery

    Technical Delivery & BIM

    • 5D BIM
    • Revit
    • CostX
    • Autodesk Construction Cloud
    • Autodesk Takeoff
    • Navisworks
    • Civil 3D
    • AutoCAD
    • PlanSwift
    • Aconex

    Selected case studies

    Selected case studies.

    The problem, what I did, and what changed. Client data stays confidential; happy to walk through the approach.

    Supply Chain ExcellenceHoly Sites

    Supply Chain KPI Framework

    Parsons for KIDANA · Holy Sites Development Programme · 2025 – Present

    Problem
    Supply chain data sat in separate procurement systems and reports, so each review started with reconciling numbers instead of deciding.
    Solution
    A KPI framework covering every supply chain function, governed data pipelines into one Power BI dashboard, and a weekly and monthly review cadence with assigned actions.
    Outcome
    Leadership reviews one trusted dataset. Trends, risks and control gaps are raised in every review, and agreed actions are tracked to closure.
    • KPI framework
    • Governance
    • Management reviews
    • Power BI
    Discuss this project
    Commercial & Cost Management45+ projects

    Cost Planning & Value Engineering

    ATA Architects International · Riyadh · 2022 – 2024

    Problem
    Design-stage decisions on SAR 50M – 500M towers needed reliable cost advice before budgets were locked.
    Solution
    Feasibility estimates, elemental cost plans, BOQs and technical specifications to CSI MasterFormat and NRM2, plus cost-option appraisals for value-engineering workshops.
    Outcome
    Clients chose between design options with the budget impact in front of them, across 45+ projects. A stronger QS team through mentoring and QC standards.
    • Cost planning
    • Value engineering
    • BOQ
    • NRM2
    Discuss this project
    Integrated Cost & Schedule ReportingSAR 6B+

    Integrated Cost & Schedule Reporting

    Saudi Bin Ladin Group · SEVEN · PMC: WSP · 2024 – 2025

    Problem
    Quantities, cost and schedule sat in separate tools, so PMO reporting was inconsistent and design and QS teams reworked quantities.
    Solution
    Real-time Power BI dashboards combining cost, schedule and progress, with EVM (CPI, SPI, variance) for every work package, on a 5D BIM workflow with model-based quantities.
    Outcome
    One consistent view of package performance for executives and consultants, with planned-vs-actual and scenario analysis, and less rework between design and QS.
    • EVM
    • Power BI
    • 5D BIM
    • CostX
    Discuss this project
    Construction DeliveryUSD 300M+

    Multi-Discipline LSTK Delivery

    CSCEC · Owner: NUCA · Consultant: Dar Al-Handasah · 2020 – 2022

    Scope
    Architecture, structure, façade, interiors and MEP in parallel under one lump-sum turnkey contract.
    My role
    Survey quality control, RFIs and NCRs, and Civil 3D quantity abstracts for subcontractor measurement.
    • LSTK
    • Subcontract measurement
    • QA/QC
    Discuss this project

    Professional capability

    Turning cost data into decision intelligence.

    I combine construction cost knowledge with data modelling, analytical reporting and Power BI dashboards, so project and commercial information is easier to understand, review and act on.

    01

    Cost intelligence

    Cost plans, BOQ analysis, benchmarks and cost trends.

    02

    Management dashboards

    KPIs, variances, trends and management reporting.

    03

    Data modelling

    Structured data, Power Query, DAX and consistent metrics.

    04

    Stakeholder reporting

    Clear reporting that supports reviews, priorities and decisions.

    Education & credentials

    Qualified in the field and in the data.

    Education & membership

    Bachelor's Degree in Architectural Engineering

    Minya University, Egypt

    Surveying Technical Institute

    Assiut University, Egypt

    Membership

    Member, Saudi Council of Engineers

    Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Certifications

    • MRICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) CandidateRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors · Working toward MRICS
    • Project Management Professional (PMP)Project Management Institute
    • Certified International Procurement & Supply Chain Ambassador (CIPSCA)Council of Procurement & Supply Chain Professionals
    • Business Development Professional (BDP)Business Development Institute · Jan 2026
    • Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle via Coursera · Jun 2025
    • Foundations of Business IntelligenceGoogle via Coursera · Oct 2024
    • Data Analysis ProfessionalUdacity & Ministry of Communications and IT, Egypt · 2022
    • Database FundamentalsITI Mahara-Tech · Aug 2025

    Contact

    Let's talk cost and commercial excellence.

    I'm open to conversations about management roles in cost, commercial, and procurement and supply chain across construction and infrastructure: Cost Manager, Commercial Manager and similar positions. I usually reply within two working days.