In 1966 Dubai, a city on the brink of transformation, oil wealth promises a new era—drawing ambitious outsiders and igniting cultural tensions. At the heart of this change is Shirley Drummer, a British expat desperate for a fresh start. Married to Dominic, an ambitious oil executive, Shirley arrives with dreams of family and belonging, only to find herself isolated in a world of social hierarchies and colonial attitudes. Her growing bond with Deepak, a charming Indian labourer, becomes both a sanctuary and a source of peril, as their forbidden relationship threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. Meanwhile, Amal, a spirited young local woman, dreams of freedom beyond Dubai’s borders. Betrothed to Khalid, the rebellious nephew of the ruling Sheikh, Amal is instead thrust into an unwanted marriage with the Sheikh himself. Torn between duty to her family and love for Khalid, she becomes entangled in a dangerous power struggle within the royal court. As Shirley and Amal navigate betrayal, ambition, and forbidden desires, their lives intersect in a city where tradition collides with progress. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and both women must make impossible choices—risking everything to find love, freedom, and a place to call home.