Staff photographers' best pictures from September

Sixth-grade students play an ice-breaker game during their first English class of the year at the Queeba Girls School in Ras Al Khaimah. Razan Alzayani / The National

Students attend the first day of school at the men's campus of UAE University in Al Ain. Sammy Dallal / The National

Preparing for the launch of what is possibly the last dhow ever to be built in Ras Al Kaihmah. Jaime Puebla / The National

Adam Babb, a nine-year-old from the United States, throws a punch at Fintan Hughes, also nine from the US, as they spar during a mixed martial arts class. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Maik Lilienthal, the chef de cuisine at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Abu Dhabi, cooks spinach ravioli with celery, fennel and caper-sage butter during a vegetarian cooking class. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

Two Chinese Muslims hang their wet towels after performing ablution in Yinchuan, China. Sarah Dea / The National

Al Ain players wait nervously before the start of the penalty shoot-out against Al Jazira in the Super Cup at Al Wasl stadium. Mike Young / The National

Deep-water solo climbing in Musandam, Oman. Christopher Pike / The National

A firefighter sprays water on the fire that destroyed the Towell Mattress and Furniture Industry factory in Sharjah. Jeff Topping / The National

People wait for their late night shwarma in Abu Dhabi. Delores Johnson / The National

Adriana Salinas from Mexico places her two-year-old son Pablo in his car seat after picking him from the Emerald City Nursery in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Hamad Al Ali was put to rest after his tragic drowning in the Nile river. Seen here are family members placing the boy's body on the floor of the mosque prior to the prayers. Lee Hoagland / The National

Amarjet Bhardwaj, an Indian foreman who has not had any work for six months, lives in a rundown house in the old quarter of Al Rams, Ras Al Khaimah, with 12 other labourers. Antonie Robertson / The National

Children feel the stuffed animals at the Al Ain Zoo stall on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrain Exhibition (Adihex). Ravindranath K / The National

Staff photographers of The National choose their favourite pictures shot on assignment in September.

If you're a friend with The National on Facebook you can go and Like your favourite photograph here.

The most liked picture from August was Sarah Dea's shot of a businessman startling a flock of pigeons as he made his way through a street in Al Rigga in Dubai. You can also see that on Facebook.