The Last Crossing by Badriya Al-Badri/ Katherine Van de Vate

 

Few communities experience the realities of expatriate workers as intimately as the global diaspora in the Gulf region. Yet, literature exploring the crises faced by Gulf expatriates remains relatively scarce. Omani novelist Badariya Al Badri’s The Last Crossing is a rare exception, shedding light on the struggles of migrant workers who endure hardship and silence beneath the region’s wealth. Touted as “the first Omani novel to focus on the lives of expatriate workers,” it presents a nuanced and layered portrayal of their experiences.

The novel follows Mukhtar, an Egyptian expatriate for whom leaving his homeland is not just an exile but a personal tragedy—the loss of Houria, his eternal love. Surrounding him are workers from various nations, each carrying their own stories of hardship and displacement. Through their lives, the novel unveils the hidden sorrows of the Gulf diaspora, particularly those from impoverished countries and backgrounds. However, it resists portraying a simplistic dichotomy between natives and expatriates or employers and workers. Instead, relationships unfold in shades of complexity—marked by moments of respect and camaraderie, but also deception, exploitation, and betrayal. Even the leftists, gaining ground in the region, manipulate both sides for their own ends. Fate, too, proves cruel, striking down the insignificant without discrimination. The novel opens and closes on a tragic note, reinforcing the inescapable vulnerability of these workers.

Behind every migrant worker is an unseen world—a longing fiancée, a waiting mother, loved ones whose sleepless nights mirror their own. Al Badri, as she has revealed, sought to capture this emotional undercurrent in her work. Among Mukhtar’s companions, Indian and Yemeni expatriates form a significant presence. As an Indian reader, I was particularly interested in how Indian characters were portrayed. The novel does not shy away from the realities of casteism and untouchability, addressing them with the same intensity as it does the deep-rooted familial values that Indian workers cling to even in adversity. Yet, it is an Indian middleman who first shatters the dreams of Mukhtar and his friends, cheating both the kafeel (sponsor) and the workers. It is also an Indian worker who preys on a vulnerable young woman, exploiting her with empty promises.

The novel touches on several contemporary issues affecting expatriate communities, including sectarian conflicts within Oman and beyond, the devastation left by the Gulf War, Western prejudices toward the Middle East, and the postcolonial discrimination that continues to shape Omani and Arab experiences. It also addresses the refugee crisis, which has displaced countless people due to warlord-driven conflicts and offers powerful commentary on misogyny in Omani society.

Structurally, the novel evokes classics like An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, beginning with a haunting accident scene and culminating in the finality of death. The psychological intensity of Houria-Mukhtar relationship is particularly striking, echoing the sado-masochistic tension between Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, especially in Houria’s initial rejection of Mukhtar. Meanwhile, the plight of expatriates deprived of identification documents and trapped in bureaucratic limbo recalls narratives of illegal immigration, such as Rawi Hage’s Cockroach, where the loss of identity extends beyond legal status into existential alienation. Translator Catherine Van De Vate masterfully preserves the lyricism and cadence of the Arabic original, ensuring its emotional depth remains intact.

Yet, despite its thematic uniqueness and literary merit, The Last Crossing has not received the critical attention it deserves. The reason may lie in the uncomfortable reality that mainstream literature, even when centering marginalized voices, often conforms to Western tastes and expectations. A year after its release, the novel remains available only on Kindle Unlimited—another testament to the challenges faced by narratives that defy convention.