Newspaper Prints

As ubiquitous mediums for local and global affairs, newspapers in the Emirati context were important platforms for discussing the drastic transformations taking place on the eve of the union. Major dailies such as Al-Khaleej (The Gulf) and Al-Ittihad (The Union), established prior to the federation, documented the lead-up to this monumental event and are critical records of this historical period. Visually, they are also testaments to the pre-digital era, when calligraphers and graphic artists were still instrumental in the aesthetic production of the headlines, logos, and feature portraits. With an eye on the gradual shift towards technology-based typography and design, this section traces some of those graphic relics.