The best photographs of the year: 'The National' staff photographers - in pictures

  • The world's deepest freshwater diving pool. The Deep Dive Dubai pool, which measures 60 metres at its deepest, offers divers a unique experience. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The world's deepest freshwater diving pool. The Deep Dive Dubai pool, which measures 60 metres at its deepest, offers divers a unique experience. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Sunset at the Tal Mureeb dunes in the Empty Quarter desert, near Liwa Oasis. Victor Besa / The National
    Sunset at the Tal Mureeb dunes in the Empty Quarter desert, near Liwa Oasis. Victor Besa / The National
  • A woman feeds birds on a foggy day in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A woman feeds birds on a foggy day in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A child enjoying a spectacular water feature at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A child enjoying a spectacular water feature at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Red Arrows put on a show at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The Red Arrows put on a show at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The sun sets on mangrove forests on Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The sun sets on mangrove forests on Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Sport at Kite Beach on a late Dubai evening. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sport at Kite Beach on a late Dubai evening. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument at the Corniche as part of the 50th National Day celebrations in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument at the Corniche as part of the 50th National Day celebrations in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Pigeons fly on the creek in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Pigeons fly on the creek in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Anju Jacob takes a photo of her daughter Evelyn Dcruz, 5, at the flag garden near Kite Beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Anju Jacob takes a photo of her daughter Evelyn Dcruz, 5, at the flag garden near Kite Beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fireworks are set off from the Yas Bay waterfront to mark Eid Al Fitr. Victor Besa / The National
    Fireworks are set off from the Yas Bay waterfront to mark Eid Al Fitr. Victor Besa / The National
  • Two women photograph the view from Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
    Two women photograph the view from Abu Dhabi's Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mariam Mohammed Al Kabi, Sameha Ahmed Al Kabi, Nadia Khalifa Al Shamsi and Ateeja Al Mherbi, artisans at the Women's Handicraft Centre in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Mariam Mohammed Al Kabi, Sameha Ahmed Al Kabi, Nadia Khalifa Al Shamsi and Ateeja Al Mherbi, artisans at the Women's Handicraft Centre in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A flyover before the final race of the Formula One season at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
    A flyover before the final race of the Formula One season at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
  • Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of the Maldives and President of the UN General Assembly, in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of the Maldives and President of the UN General Assembly, in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A visit to Zabeel Stables with Tadhg O’Shea, the nine-time UAE champion rider who has been named the first jockey of Zabeel Stables. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A visit to Zabeel Stables with Tadhg O’Shea, the nine-time UAE champion rider who has been named the first jockey of Zabeel Stables. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Worshippers attend the Eid prayers at the Umm Suquim Eid prayer grounds. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Worshippers attend the Eid prayers at the Umm Suquim Eid prayer grounds. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The official opening of Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Island, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The official opening of Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Island, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ali Mabkhout of the UAE tussles with Kushedya Hari Yudo of Indonesia in the World Cup qualifier at the Zabeel Stadium, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ali Mabkhout of the UAE tussles with Kushedya Hari Yudo of Indonesia in the World Cup qualifier at the Zabeel Stadium, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A woman takes a picture of the Mobility Pavilion on the 11th day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A woman takes a picture of the Mobility Pavilion on the 11th day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A blue and gold macaw with biologist Elizabeth Hill at the Green Planet in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A blue and gold macaw with biologist Elizabeth Hill at the Green Planet in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Visitors to Dubai Creek Harbour enjoy the sunset on the longest day of the year in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Visitors to Dubai Creek Harbour enjoy the sunset on the longest day of the year in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ramadan recipes for Eid. Victor Besa / The National
    Ramadan recipes for Eid. Victor Besa / The National
  • Arabian carpet sharks’ egg shells in Atlantis, The Palms, where the hotel fosters aquatic life born in the property's aquarium. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Arabian carpet sharks’ egg shells in Atlantis, The Palms, where the hotel fosters aquatic life born in the property's aquarium. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The buried 'ghost' village of Al Madam, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The buried 'ghost' village of Al Madam, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dubai company, Terraplus, is using underground technology to water palm trees, which it claims could save up to around a trillion litres of water each year in the UAE if widely adopted by date farmers. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Dubai company, Terraplus, is using underground technology to water palm trees, which it claims could save up to around a trillion litres of water each year in the UAE if widely adopted by date farmers. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Early morning fog in Al Badayer desert, in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National
    Early morning fog in Al Badayer desert, in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Families visit Abu Dhabi's salt lake flats at sunset. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Families visit Abu Dhabi's salt lake flats at sunset. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Momolog designs at Dubai Modest Fashion Week, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Momolog designs at Dubai Modest Fashion Week, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Men practise falconry in the desert at Exit 55, Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Men practise falconry in the desert at Exit 55, Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Anglers fish in the fog at Yas Iron Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Anglers fish in the fog at Yas Iron Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A Boeing 777-X at the Dubai Airshow 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A Boeing 777-X at the Dubai Airshow 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Jubail Mangrove Park on a Monday during dusk. Victor Besa / The National
    Jubail Mangrove Park on a Monday during dusk. Victor Besa / The National
  • Children playing cricket in a car park in Bur Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Children playing cricket in a car park in Bur Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Aura skypool, the world’s first 360 degree infinity pool, opens at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Aura skypool, the world’s first 360 degree infinity pool, opens at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mohamed Ramadan at the All Africa Festival, Burj Park, Downtown Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Mohamed Ramadan at the All Africa Festival, Burj Park, Downtown Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Kenya and USA face off in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Kenya and USA face off in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Sultan Al Shamsi with children, Noora, 4 and Rashid, 3. Victor Besa / The National
    Sultan Al Shamsi with children, Noora, 4 and Rashid, 3. Victor Besa / The National
  • The sun rises on a hazy morning along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The sun rises on a hazy morning along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National