Phenol is a persistent and toxic pollutant in industrial wastewater, demanding efficient and sustainable removal technologies. Conventional treatment methods often suffer from high operational costs, incomplete degradation, and secondary contamination. In this study, ZnO–Fe$_2$O$_3$ nanocomposites were synthesized using pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL)-a clean, surfactant-free, and environmentally benign route—to develop eco-friendly adsorbents for phenol removal. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the as-prepared nanoparticles were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The 50:50 ZnO–Fe$_2$O$_3$ composite demonstrated moderate colloidal stability (-28.54 mV), nanoscale crystallinity, and a heterogeneous surface morphology conducive to adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments at an initial phenol concentration of 100 mg/L revealed a maximum removal efficiency of 68.44% under 600 laser pulses after 50 minutes of contact time. The consistent optical band gap values (2.48-2.50 eV) across all samples indicated structural and electronic stability. The enhanced adsorption efficiency was attributed to synergistic interfacial interactions between ZnO and Fe$_2$O$_3$ within the nanocomposite matrix. Although the present work is limited to batch-scale trials under fixed conditions, future studies will investigate the effects of pH, adsorption kinetics, isotherm behavior, and material reusability. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of PLAL-fabricated ZnO–Fe$_2$O$_3$ nanocomposites as sustainable adsorbents for aqueous phenol remediation.