In pictures: Inside the black gold industry

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  Sharjah - September 30, 2009 - Crescent Petroleum's oil and gas platform in their Mubarek field off the coast of Sharjah, September 30, 2009. (Photo by Jeff Topping/ The National ) *** Local Caption *** JT016-0930-CRESCENT PETROLEUM_MG_3515.jpg

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  Men working in a Lamprell's shipyard in Jebel Ali. Lamprell is an oil services company based in the Middle East. (Jaime Puebla / The National)

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  A boater speeds along the water during sunset with an oil derrick in the background near the Beach Hotel in the Al Khan neighborhood in Sharjah. (Jeff Topping/The National)

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  A fishing boat sails past an oil and gas platform in the Mubarek field off the coast of Sharjah, (Photo by Jeff Topping/ The National )

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  A pattern of valves, gauges and piping on Crescent Petroleum's oil and gas platform in their Mubarek field off the coast of Sharjah. (Photo by Jeff Topping/ The National )

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  Students in the Gas & Oil Separation Plant at the ADNOC Technical Institute in Abu Dhabi. (Stephen Lock / The National)

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  An ADNOC Oil Facility off the coast of Abu Dhabi. (Photo courtesy of ADNOC)