diff --git a/backend/app/bootstrap.php b/backend/app/bootstrap.php
index 57d633f..2a8d6ca 100644
--- a/backend/app/bootstrap.php
+++ b/backend/app/bootstrap.php
@@ -25,33 +25,19 @@ spl_autoload_register(function ($class) {
     }
 });
 
-// 2. Load Environment Variables (Checks local and production server locations)
+// 2. Load Environment Variables (Fixed Dedicated CloudPanel Path: /home/intaleqapp-saqel/.env)
 try {
-    $candidatePaths = [
-        APP_ROOT . '/.env',                                             // saqel/backend/.env
-        APP_ROOT . '/../.env',                                          // saqel/.env
-        APP_ROOT . '/../../.env',                                       // htdocs/saqel.intaleqapp.com/.env
-        '/home/intaleqapp-saqel/htdocs/saqel.intaleqapp.com/saqel/.env',
-        '/home/intaleqapp-saqel/htdocs/saqel.intaleqapp.com/.env',
-        '/home/intaleqapp-saqel/.env',
-        '/home/saqel/.env',
-        APP_ROOT . '/docker/.env',
-    ];
+    // Fixed CloudPanel root path on server, with local fallback for local development
+    $env_file = file_exists('/home/intaleqapp-saqel/.env')
+        ? '/home/intaleqapp-saqel/.env'
+        : APP_ROOT . '/.env';
 
-    $env_file = null;
-    foreach ($candidatePaths as $path) {
-        if (file_exists($path) && is_readable($path) && filesize($path) > 10) {
-            $env_file = realpath($path) ?: $path;
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if ($env_file) {
+    if (file_exists($env_file)) {
         define('LOADED_ENV_PATH', $env_file);
         \App\Core\Env::load($env_file);
     } else {
-        define('LOADED_ENV_PATH', 'NONE_FOUND');
-        error_log("⚠️ [Env Warning] No valid .env file found in candidate paths. Expecting variables from server environment.");
+        define('LOADED_ENV_PATH', 'NOT_FOUND: ' . $env_file);
+        error_log("⚠️ [Env Warning] .env file not found at: {$env_file}");
     }
 } catch (\Exception $e) {
     error_log('Env Load Error: ' . $e->getMessage());