Discover the UAE Through Emirati Eyes: The Red Island by Adil Alzarooni

Many of us have lived in the UAE for years, sometimes even decades, without glimpsing the personal lives and stories of the Emirati community. The Red Island: The Gatekeeper, written in English by Emirati author Adil Alzarooni, offers a rare chance to step closer and see the UAE through local eyes.

Launched at the 2024 Sharjah International Book Fair, this bestselling literary romantasy offers an immersive experience through its pages; an intimate, imaginative look into Emirati family life and social norms.

Set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, The Red Island unfolds in Al Jazirah Al Hamra (The Red Island), an abandoned town in Ras Al Khaimah that feels alive; haunted, layered and unforgettable.

The story follows Badr, a young Emirati man grappling with personal loss. As he navigates a series of life‑altering events, amid the ruins of Al Jazirah, he uncovers a world steeped in jinn lore, dark magic and whispered legends. When the ghost town begins to test his courage and beliefs, Badr is forced to confront who he is and what he is willing to risk to reclaim the life he once knew.

What begins as a love story, shrouded in mystery, gradually evolves into a coming-of-age journey, with spirituality and Arab culture woven seamlessly throughout. As Badr moves through a rapidly transforming UAE, the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, compelling readers to ask what it truly means to love, to belong, and to discover oneself in uncertain times.

While the novel includes supernatural and spiritual elements, and briefly explores the themes of grief and trauma, these are handled with subtely and purpose, enriching the characters rather than overshadowing them.

The Red Island: The Gatekeeper, described by many readers as a book-club favourite and a page-turner with relatable characters, is atmospheric, grounded, and emotionally resonant. It opens a cultural doorway, inviting you to look beyond the UAE’s glittering skylines, feel its history breathe, and sense how deeply place and identity intertwine.

The Red Island is Adil Alzarooni’s first novel, written with a clear purpose: to use storytelling as bridge between cultures and generations. Through it, he harnesses the power of literature as a cultural ambassador, capturing the essence of Emirati culture and heritage through universal themes of love, loss and identity that speak to readers everywhere. His goal isn’t only to entertain, but to invite tourists, expatriates, and long-term UAE residents to experience the nuance, warmth and quiet beauty of Emirati life.

// About the Author

Dr. Adil Alzarooni  is an Emirati author, academic and leader of entrepreneurial teams. He serves as the CEO of two family offices, Al Zarooni Emirates Investments and Al Bidayer Holding, and is the founder of Citizens School Dubai.

Dr. Adil holds a PhD from the British University in Dubai and has previously authored Economic Zones: The Essentials and Sustaining Faily Businesses: The Essentials.

// The Red Island: Where to Buy (UAE & International)

The Red Island: The Gatekeeper by Adil Alzarooni is available at leading bookstores and online: https://theredisland.shop