Last updated: 28 July 2026

1. About AlRaff

AlRaff (الرف) is a membership community for UAE-based authors, operated by AlRaff, trading under the legal entity shown on your membership invoice. These terms govern your membership with AlRaff.

In these terms, "AlRaff" refers to the membership community as a whole. "The Shelf" refers specifically to the author directory feature of the AlRaff website.

AlRaff membership is open only to individuals aged 18 or over. By joining AlRaff, you confirm that you meet this requirement.

2. Membership Fees

Standard membership is AED 550 per year. Founding member pricing (AED 400 per year for life, locked in for as long as membership is maintained continuously without a lapse) is available to those who expressed interest by completing the membership form before 17 July 2026, regardless of when payment is subsequently received and processed.

Membership year runs from September to August. If you join partway through the year, a reduced termly rate applies rather than the full annual fee, details available on request at hello@alraff.com.

Payment can be made by bank transfer or via Zbooni. A processing charge of AED 15 applies to payments made via Zbooni; this is not applied to bank transfers. Membership is confirmed once payment is received in full.

Membership fees may be reviewed from time to time. Any changes will apply only to future membership periods and will be communicated before renewal.

3. Renewal

Membership renews annually each September. Continued membership requires payment of the applicable renewal fee. AlRaff will contact members ahead of renewal. Membership lapses automatically if not renewed, and founding member pricing is lost if membership lapses and is later rejoined.

4. Your Shelf Profile

As a member, you may provide a photo, biography, and details about your published work and any school visits you offer, for display on The Shelf. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide. Your direct contact details (email, phone number) are not published; enquiries from schools and nurseries are routed through AlRaff.

5. Originality and Regulatory Compliance

AlRaff welcomes members at every stage, including aspiring authors who have not yet published a book. Where you have published work you'd like to promote through AlRaff, the following applies:

You confirm that the books and creative work you are promoting are your own original work. If any part of a published work (text or illustration) was substantially AI-generated, you agree to disclose this to AlRaff.

If a school, nursery, or partner asks AlRaff directly whether a member's work involves AI-generated content, AlRaff will refer the enquiry to the member to respond to directly, rather than disclosing on the member's behalf.

You further confirm that any published work has received approval from the UAE's National Media Authority (NMA), where required for its distribution and sale in the UAE. AlRaff will not display or promote a specific title that has not received this approval, though this does not affect your underlying membership.

6. School Visit Service

Membership includes the opportunity to be introduced to schools, nurseries and other educational organisations seeking author visits, either through The Shelf or via enquiries received directly by AlRaff.

A referral fee of AED 150 is payable by the member to AlRaff for each booking confirmed as a result of an introduction made by AlRaff. A booking is considered confirmed once both the member and the organisation have agreed to proceed with the visit. The referral fee becomes payable upon confirmation of the booking and must be paid within 14 days of invoice.

AlRaff acts solely as a facilitator of introductions and does not guarantee school visit enquiries, bookings, attendance numbers, income or any particular outcome. All arrangements relating to the visit, including scheduling, fees, contracts, invoicing, insurance (where applicable), safeguarding requirements and the delivery of the visit, remain the sole responsibility of the member and the organisation booking the visit. AlRaff is not a party to any agreement between the member and the organisation and accepts no liability for cancellations, disputes, non-payment, claims or any other matters arising from the booking or the visit itself.

7. Partner Benefits

Membership provides access to discounts and offers from AlRaff's partners. These are provided by third parties and are subject to each partner's own availability and terms; AlRaff is not responsible for the delivery of partner services.

8. Social Media Visibility

As a member, AlRaff will publish one dedicated post for each new book launch you notify us of, provided reasonable notice is given. Beyond this, members receive priority consideration for general features and author spotlights across AlRaff's Instagram and LinkedIn. Given the number of members and AlRaff's posting capacity, general features and spotlights are not guaranteed on a fixed schedule or in a set quantity.

9. Guarantees

Membership provides access to opportunities, resources and introductions but does not guarantee sales, school bookings, publishing opportunities, media coverage or commercial success.

10. Liability

AlRaff acts solely as a membership community and facilitator of introductions. AlRaff is not liable for any loss, damage, injury, cancellation, dispute or claim arising from arrangements made between members and third parties, including schools, nurseries, publishers or commercial partners.

11. Conduct

Members are expected to engage professionally and respectfully with AlRaff, its partners, and the schools and nurseries they are introduced to.

AlRaff may suspend or terminate membership immediately where a member breaches these Terms, provides false information, behaves in a manner that damages the reputation of AlRaff or its members (including harassment, discrimination, abusive behaviour, unlawful conduct, or behaviour likely to damage the reputation of AlRaff or its community), or fails to pay applicable fees.

12. Cancellation and Refunds

Membership fees are non-refundable once paid, including if you choose not to renew or cancel partway through a membership year. No refund will be due following termination for breach.

13. Your Content and Intellectual Property

You retain full ownership of your books, illustrations, and any other creative work. By joining AlRaff, you grant AlRaff a licence to display your name, photo, biography, and book covers on the AlRaff website and social media channels for the purpose of promoting your membership and AlRaff generally. This licence ends if your membership ends, though AlRaff may need reasonable time to remove content.

You confirm that you own, or have permission to use, all materials you submit to AlRaff.

14. Your Business Affairs

Members remain solely responsible for their own business affairs, including taxation, invoicing, licensing, insurance and compliance with applicable laws.

15. Data and Privacy

Information you provide is used to build and display your Shelf profile and to manage your membership. See our Privacy Policy for more detail on how your data is handled.

16. Changes to These Terms

AlRaff may update these terms from time to time. Continued membership after changes are posted means you accept the updated terms.

17. Programme Cancellation

AlRaff may cancel or discontinue the membership programme at its discretion. Where this occurs, members may receive a pro-rata refund at AlRaff's discretion, unless closure results from circumstances beyond AlRaff's reasonable control.

18. Force Majeure

AlRaff shall not be liable for delays or failure to perform its obligations where this results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including government restrictions, natural disasters, technical failures or public emergencies.

19. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates. The courts of the United Arab Emirates shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with these terms.

20. Contact

Questions about these terms can be sent to hello@alraff.com.