The graphic design industry is still nascent in the UAE, but has quickly achieved major milestones thanks to the efforts behind Dubai Design Week, which led to an ‘Arab design renaissance.’ In just over a decade, the event has become a pivotal moment for the region's creative industries. By its second year, Dubai Design Week had doubled in size, and the UAE’s reputation as a creative capital was further cemented with high-profile architectural landmarks such as the Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi and OMA’s Concrete art space on Alserkal Avenue. This momentum continues to build. During this year’s Dubai Design Week, the UAE saw the inauguration of its first contemporary art institution, the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. Additionally, the Middle East welcomed its first graphic design biennale in Sharjah, a neighboring emirate. The Dubai Design District (D3), which was still under development four years ago, now boasts an 85% occupancy rate. The inaugural Fikra Graphic Design Biennial in Sharjah stands out as a milestone event for the graphics design industry in the UAE, inviting participation from more than 20 countries. Organized by Fikra, a graphic design studio and education platform, this biennial is a significant opportunity for Middle Eastern graphic design practices to gain international recognition. Set in the old Bank of Sharjah, the event is imaginatively transformed into a fictional ‘Ministry of Graphic Design.’ Salem Al-Qassimi, founder of Fikra, envisions the biennial as an endeavor to ""un-define"" graphic design and challenge traditional perceptions by showcasing a diverse range of graphic design works, concepts, and initiatives. The exhibition is creatively structured into sections that mimic government departments, such as The Department of Mapping Margins and The Department of Dematerialising Language, offering a broad and innovative perspective on the discipline.