Proud parents blessed with UAE National Day babies

Parents whose children were born on National Day say they were surprised and delighted that their little ones arrived on this special day.

National Day baby Meera Al Ali was born at 2.36pm at the Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National
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ABU DHABI // As the country celebrated its unity, in hospitals across the UAE some new arrivals made it a very special National Day for their families.

Among the proud parents of babies born on December 2 was Hassan Al Shehhi, of Ras Al Khaimah, who said God had blessed him with a little girl.

Mr Al Shehhi named her Fatima after Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, mother of the nation.

Another arrival on the day was a son to Laila Mubarak, from Morocco, who is married to an Emirati. The boy arrived at 2pm at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi and they named him Zayed after the founding father.

“What parent does not dream that their child would have the qualities of Sheikh Zayed?” Ms Mubarak asked.

“Everybody loves Sheikh Zayed and he has done so much for not just UAE, but the whole world. The fact that our son was born on National Day is like a blessing to us.”

“All of our family are so happy and they came to see us,” Ms Mubarak said. “It is an incredible feeling to have a baby on this day and I am privileged.

“No one can imagine this feeling. It is not something you can measure. Everyone was celebrating.”

At 2.36pm, Meera was born to Emiratis Mohammed Al Ali, 25, and his wife Maryam, 20, at 2.36pm at Corniche Hospital.

“I hadn’t anticipated that my daughter would be born on National Day, although my wife had a feeling she might deliver on that day,” said Mr Al Ali.

“Maryam was supposed to have the baby on November 29 but the day passed and we were waiting. Everyone was celebrating at the Corniche and we had to rush to the hospital.”

He said he was very happy with the quality of care given at the hospital and that the couple were looking forward to introducing their new arrival to her older brother, Hassen, 2.

“All the family who were celebrating at the Corniche came to the hospital to see the baby,” said Mr Al Ali.

“National Day is very important to us and the birth of our daughter on this day has made it even more special.”

Another couple who were able to mark National Day with an addition to their family were Mahammad Kunhi, 44, and his wife Jameela, 34.

The as-yet unnamed baby girl was born at 6.30am at Aster DM Healthcare. She is the Indian couple’s third child after a daughter, 11, and son, 4.

“I have lived here for so long and I had never thought I would have a child on this day,” said Mr Kunhi, who works as a sales executive in Dubai.

“We were very excited and I informed my family in India about the baby’s birth and the fact that it coincided with National Day.

“This is a very special day of the year and is a time for festivities. We hadn’t expected that the baby would be born on this day.”

Another happy Emirati on the day was Ali Al Shehi of RAK, who named his son Mohammed.

arizvi2@thenational.ae