Best original photography from ‘The National’, September 2021 – in pictures

  • The riding school at St James City Farm run by Imran Atcha in Gloucester, western England. He has been helping young Muslims from the local community meet and ride the horses. Aamilah Aswat, 15, learnt to ride at the school and is now part of the new Khadijah Mellah scholarship scheme supporting eight riders around the country. Mark Chilvers for The National
    The riding school at St James City Farm run by Imran Atcha in Gloucester, western England. He has been helping young Muslims from the local community meet and ride the horses. Aamilah Aswat, 15, learnt to ride at the school and is now part of the new Khadijah Mellah scholarship scheme supporting eight riders around the country. Mark Chilvers for The National
  • Friends play beach football at the Corniche during sunset. Victor Besa / The National
    Friends play beach football at the Corniche during sunset. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mustafa, 20, from Kabul says he fears for his life at the hands of the Taliban. Emre Caylak for The National
    Mustafa, 20, from Kabul says he fears for his life at the hands of the Taliban. Emre Caylak for The National
  • Oliver Wright, 13, a young teenager who wants to work, can now apply for a special new visa that allows over-15s to work in the UAE. Oliver is pictured in his room at his home in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Oliver Wright, 13, a young teenager who wants to work, can now apply for a special new visa that allows over-15s to work in the UAE. Oliver is pictured in his room at his home in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations, at the embassy of Uzbekistan. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations, at the embassy of Uzbekistan. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Taqi Daryabi, 22, a videojournalist with the 'EtilaatRoz' newspaper, was severely beaten by the Taliban after being detained while covering a women's rights protest. Stefanie Glinski for The National
    Taqi Daryabi, 22, a videojournalist with the 'EtilaatRoz' newspaper, was severely beaten by the Taliban after being detained while covering a women's rights protest. Stefanie Glinski for The National
  • Hekmatullah Hekmat, 25, was part of a prisoner release initiated by the Afghan government as part of a prerequisite to start direct peace negotiations with the Taliban. He was imprisoned at Pul-e-Charkhi for nearly three years. Stefanie Glinski for The National
    Hekmatullah Hekmat, 25, was part of a prisoner release initiated by the Afghan government as part of a prerequisite to start direct peace negotiations with the Taliban. He was imprisoned at Pul-e-Charkhi for nearly three years. Stefanie Glinski for The National
  • The famous logo on a vintage Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine at the Bentley Emirates Dubai Showroom. Pawan Singh / The National
    The famous logo on a vintage Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine at the Bentley Emirates Dubai Showroom. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Children who try to smuggle themselves into Pakistan from Afghanistan under trucks are detained by Pakistani border guards. They are eventually let go and marched back over the border. Every day dozens of children from Afghanistan smuggle themselves over the border into Pakistan to sell Paan and other goods before smuggling themselves back again. Oliver Marsden for The National
    Children who try to smuggle themselves into Pakistan from Afghanistan under trucks are detained by Pakistani border guards. They are eventually let go and marched back over the border. Every day dozens of children from Afghanistan smuggle themselves over the border into Pakistan to sell Paan and other goods before smuggling themselves back again. Oliver Marsden for The National
  • Arezu Atahi has been working as a teacher for the past 35 years, spending the Taliban’s previous reign in neighbouring Pakistan. Now 62, she said she was clinging to the hope that the militants had indeed changed their stance on girls’ education. Stefanie Dglinski for The National
    Arezu Atahi has been working as a teacher for the past 35 years, spending the Taliban’s previous reign in neighbouring Pakistan. Now 62, she said she was clinging to the hope that the militants had indeed changed their stance on girls’ education. Stefanie Dglinski for The National
  • Sunset through a mangrove forest on Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Sunset through a mangrove forest on Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Tene Saarva, 31, from Estonia with her dog Denny at her home in Dubai. She now fosters Denny who retired from the Dubai Police K9 unit. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Tene Saarva, 31, from Estonia with her dog Denny at her home in Dubai. She now fosters Denny who retired from the Dubai Police K9 unit. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A media tour of the impressive India pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A media tour of the impressive India pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Norma Younes, 74, watches over her 97-year-old mother from a doorway in Tannourine, Lebanon. Elizabeth Fitt for The National
    Norma Younes, 74, watches over her 97-year-old mother from a doorway in Tannourine, Lebanon. Elizabeth Fitt for The National
  • Mohamed Abdulkhaliq at Gargash Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mohamed Abdulkhaliq at Gargash Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fireworks display at the Yas Waterfront, Abu Dhabi, in honour of Saudi Arabia’s 91st National Day. Victor Besa / The National
    Fireworks display at the Yas Waterfront, Abu Dhabi, in honour of Saudi Arabia’s 91st National Day. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Monaco pavilion with its kaleidoscopic entrance adds more colour to Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Monaco pavilion with its kaleidoscopic entrance adds more colour to Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Japan pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    The Japan pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Upgrades to the Sharjah cricket stadium. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Upgrades to the Sharjah cricket stadium. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Ali Mohammad Al Shehhi, a veteran marksman, checks out some rifles at the Caracal stall at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. Victor Besa / The National
    Ali Mohammad Al Shehhi, a veteran marksman, checks out some rifles at the Caracal stall at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. Victor Besa / The National