It was a double celebration this Eid Al Adha for some families as they welcomed healthy babies.
Parents shared their delight at the birth of their children with hospitals distributing flowers and chocolates to make the day extra special.
Danat Al Emarat Hospital in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday celebrated the arrival of three babies – a girl and two boys.
The Emirati Al Zaabi family had the honour of being the first to celebrate the arrival of their newborn, Abdullah. He was born at 12 minutes after midnight in good health and weighed 3.04kg.
"Baby Abdullah has brought us immense joy and gratitude,” his father said.
“We are deeply grateful to have been blessed with this precious gift on the auspicious first day of Eid. We extend our sincere appreciation to the entire team at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for their exceptional care and support extended to my wife and child."
The second Emirati newborn was a baby girl who was born at 3am, weighing 2.87kg.
And at 6:21am, the Emirati family of Al Hanaee welcomed their son, weighing 3.49kg.
"We have decided to name our baby, Hamed," the father said. “We consider ourselves very lucky that our son arrived in good health on this memorable day, doubling our joy.
"We are incredibly grateful for the compassionate care extended to my wife and our child by the team at Danat Al Emarat Hospital, who managed to make two wonderful occasions even more special.”
Hospital staff distributed flowers and chocolates to those celebrating at the hospital on a very special occasion.
It was also a joyous occasion at Ajman’s Thumbay University Hospital where proud parents Aysha and Ghalib Zakir from Pakistan welcomed their baby boy at 4:33am.
Aysha arrived at the hospital in labour about midnight with staff ensuring the baby was delivered safely weighing 3.8kg.
“Today, on this blessed Eid Al Adha, I am overwhelmed as we have welcomed our precious baby boy,” said proud father Ghalib Zakir.
“My heart is filled with gratitude for the doctor and the hospital staff at Thumbay University Hospital who have provided exceptional care and support throughout this incredible journey.
"They have truly made this Eid a celebration of miracles and blessings. Eid Mubarak to all and may the joy of this day touch every soul with love and happiness.”
Dr Kasturi Mummigatti, specialist and clinical lecturer at the hospital’s centre of obstetrics and gynaecology, said the hospital was proud to have delivered the baby.
"It was our privilege that we had the honour of delivering a precious baby boy into this world," Dr Mummigatti said. "Both the baby and the mother are in good health and thriving. Eid Mubarak to all, as we celebrate the miracle of life on this special occasion."
Eid Al Adha celebrated in the Middle East and North Africa - in pictures
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Worshippers pose for a selfie after the morning prayers for Eid Al Adha. AFP -
A boy holds balloons after the morning prayers for Eid Al Adha at the Azhar mosque in the centre of Cairo. AFP -
Children play after visiting the local cemetery during Eid Al Adha near Tanta, Egypt. EPA -
Iraqis take a ride at a funfair as they celebrate Eid Al Adha in Baghdad. Reuters -
Morning prayers for Eid Al Adha in the Surur district of Oman's Samail governorate. AFP -
A Palestinian family pose with a camel before its slaughter for Eid Al Adha near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. AFP -
Iraqi children have fun at the fair on the first day of Eid in the old city of Mosul. Reuters -
A sacrificial animal at a livestock market in Rabat, Morocco. EPA -
Jordan's King Abdullah II, right, performs Eid Al Adha morning prayers the Hashemiya mosque in Amman. AFP -
Children ride in a miniature amusement train pulled by a pickup truck on the first day of Eid Al Adha in Binnish, Syria. AFP -
Iraqi residents take a ride at an amusement park as they celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters -
A spectacular Eid Al Adha fireworks display at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A man gets a haircut on the first day of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday in al-Qamariya street in old Damascus, Syria. AFP -
Worshippers perform the morning prayers for Eid al-Adha in the Surur district in Oman's governorate of Samail. AFP -
Sudanese worshippers who fled violence in Khartoum, gather for Eid Al Adha morning prayers in the region of Jazira, south of Khartoum. AFP -
Palestinians celebrate the first day of Eid Al Adha in Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters -
Muslims celebrate Eid near the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem's Old City. AP Photo -
Palestinians at prayer in Al Aqsa compound on the first day of Eid. Muslims celebrate the holiday to mark the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. Reuters -
Sunnis at prayer on the first day of Eid at the shrine of cleric Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Gailani in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters -
Worshippers after prayers on the first day of Eid Al Adha in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters -
Morning Eid Al Adha prayers at Zayed the Second Mosque in Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Greeting friends and relatives after morning Eid prayers at Zayed the Second Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Eid prayers at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA -
Muslim women pray in a courtyard of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. EPA -
Muslims after prayers on the first day of Eid, outside Al Amin mosque in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
