diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/projects/page.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/projects/page.tsx
index 2c1d4cd..7006783 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/projects/page.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
   const [isCreateDialogOpen, setIsCreateDialogOpen] = useState(false);
   const { data: projects, isLoading, error } = useProjects();
 
+  // Log state for debugging
+  console.log('[ProjectsPage] State:', {
+    isLoading,
+    error,
+    projects,
+    apiUrl: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
+  });
+
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="flex h-[50vh] items-center justify-center">
@@ -21,11 +29,44 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
   }
 
   if (error) {
+    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error';
+    const apiUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL || 'http://localhost:5000/api/v1';
+
+    console.error('[ProjectsPage] Error loading projects:', error);
+
     return (
       <div className="flex h-[50vh] items-center justify-center">
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          Failed to load projects. Please try again later.
-        </p>
+        <Card className="w-full max-w-md">
+          <CardHeader>
+            <CardTitle className="text-red-600">Failed to Load Projects</CardTitle>
+            <CardDescription>Unable to connect to the backend API</CardDescription>
+          </CardHeader>
+          <CardContent className="space-y-4">
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <p className="text-sm font-medium">Error Details:</p>
+              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{errorMessage}</p>
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <p className="text-sm font-medium">API URL:</p>
+              <p className="text-sm font-mono text-muted-foreground">{apiUrl}</p>
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <p className="text-sm font-medium">Troubleshooting Steps:</p>
+              <ul className="list-disc list-inside text-sm text-muted-foreground space-y-1">
+                <li>Check if the backend server is running</li>
+                <li>Verify the API URL in .env.local</li>
+                <li>Check browser console (F12) for detailed errors</li>
+                <li>Check network tab (F12) for failed requests</li>
+              </ul>
+            </div>
+            <Button
+              onClick={() => window.location.reload()}
+              className="w-full"
+            >
+              Retry
+            </Button>
+          </CardContent>
+        </Card>
       </div>
     );
   }
diff --git a/lib/api/client.ts b/lib/api/client.ts
index 3a265b2..662f6fb 100644
--- a/lib/api/client.ts
+++ b/lib/api/client.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 const API_URL = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL || 'http://localhost:5000/api/v1';
 
+// Log API URL for debugging
+if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
+  console.log('[API Client] API_URL:', API_URL);
+  console.log('[API Client] NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL:', process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL);
+}
+
 export class ApiError extends Error {
   constructor(
     public status: number,
@@ -14,11 +20,18 @@ export class ApiError extends Error {
 async function handleResponse<T>(response: Response): Promise<T> {
   if (!response.ok) {
     const errorData = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
-    throw new ApiError(
+    const error = new ApiError(
       response.status,
       errorData.message || response.statusText,
       errorData
     );
+    console.error('[API Client] Request failed:', {
+      url: response.url,
+      status: response.status,
+      statusText: response.statusText,
+      errorData,
+    });
+    throw error;
   }
 
   if (response.status === 204) {
@@ -34,6 +47,12 @@ export async function apiRequest<T>(
 ): Promise<T> {
   const url = `${API_URL}${endpoint}`;
 
+  console.log('[API Client] Request:', {
+    method: options.method || 'GET',
+    url,
+    endpoint,
+  });
+
   const headers: Record<string, string> = {
     'Content-Type': 'application/json',
   };
@@ -56,8 +75,23 @@ export async function apiRequest<T>(
     headers,
   };
 
-  const response = await fetch(url, config);
-  return handleResponse<T>(response);
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(url, config);
+    const result = await handleResponse<T>(response);
+    console.log('[API Client] Response:', {
+      url,
+      status: response.status,
+      data: result,
+    });
+    return result;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('[API Client] Network error:', {
+      url,
+      error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+      errorObject: error,
+    });
+    throw error;
+  }
 }
 
 export const api = {
diff --git a/lib/hooks/use-projects.ts b/lib/hooks/use-projects.ts
index 9ba1ed1..64f348e 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/use-projects.ts
+++ b/lib/hooks/use-projects.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,19 @@ import type { Project, CreateProjectDto, UpdateProjectDto } from '@/types/projec
 export function useProjects(page = 1, pageSize = 20) {
   return useQuery<Project[]>({
     queryKey: ['projects', page, pageSize],
-    queryFn: () => projectsApi.getAll(page, pageSize),
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      console.log('[useProjects] Fetching projects...', { page, pageSize });
+      try {
+        const result = await projectsApi.getAll(page, pageSize);
+        console.log('[useProjects] Fetch successful:', result);
+        return result;
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error('[useProjects] Fetch failed:', error);
+        throw error;
+      }
+    },
     staleTime: 5 * 60 * 1000, // 5 minutes
+    retry: 1, // Only retry once to fail faster
   });
 }