Abu Dhabi couple welcome leap-year baby Khalifa

The leap-year baby was born on Monday morning at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi to proud parents, Mohamed Alhammadi and Fatima Ezzahra Salama — their first child.

Mohammed Alhammadi and Fatima Ezzahra Salama on Monday with their newborn, leap-year baby, Khalifa, who was named after President Sheikh Khalifa. Courtesy Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI // Khalifa Alhammadi was born on February 29, a day that occurs every four years, but he will get to celebrate his birthday every year, says his father.

Khalifa was born on Monday morning at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi to Mohammed Alhammadi and Fatima Ezzahra Salama.

“It’ll be cheaper on birthdays,” Mr Alhammadi joked about his firstborn.

He said he would throw “a small party” for the infant – who weighs 3.5 kilograms and is 54.5 centimetres in height – every year on February 28 and a big celebration on leap years.

“I’m really happy, but it is also a normal feeling,” said Mr Alhammadi.

“All days come from God, but perhaps I do feel that my baby is special. Not too many of us have birthdays every four years.”

He said he named his son after President Sheikh Khalifa.

“I wish to tell His Highness that we’ve given you one more Emirati son,” Mr Alhammadi said.

“We’d like to share our baby with you, for our country.”

He added that his wife was recovering well from giving birth.

Over at Medeor 24x7 Hospital in the capital, another leap year baby, named Daniel, was born yesterday morning, said the hospital.

People born on February 29 can face bureaucratic challenges. The Honour Society of Leap Year Day Babies was set up in the United States to tackle these issues. It has 10,000 members from around the world.

The society promotes “leap consciousness” and aims to act as a voice for those born on February 29.