The spirit of transformation surging through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a newly-formed nation is captured on the pages of the country’s pioneering newspapers, state publications, and a medley of cultural, governmental and children’s magazines. What were the most gripping issues of the time? How was the union reflected in official and popular discourse in those early days of formation? This exhibition section provides responses to these questions and more, through an open-ended survey of headlines, visual currents, and graphic expressions from the 1970s and 80s. This material is gathered from both private collections and public archives in the UAE.