As fireworks lit up the UAE skyline and families counted down to midnight, hospital delivery rooms across the country marked the start of 2026 in a quieter, deeply personal way — with the cries of newborns arriving into the New Year.
Their births — some after long struggles, others marking first-time parenthood — captured the essence of New Year’s Day in the UAE: hope renewed, families expanded, and a nation beginning another year with new life at its heart.
Midnight milestones in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, Burjeel Medical City welcomed its first baby of 2026 at exactly 12:00am. Baby Saeed Saif Al Rumaithi, weighing 3.302kg, was born to Emirati parents Saif Al Rumaithi and Mrs Al Rumaithi, marking not just a New Year milestone for the hospital, but also the arrival of the couple’s first child.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
The name Saeed — meaning happy — was chosen with intention and emotion. The father named his son after his own father, while the family saw the name as a reflection of the joy tied to welcoming a child at the very start of the year.
The mother said, “We chose the name Saeed because we hope our baby will always be happy and bring joy to our family in the New Year.”
Dr Srividya Venugopal, Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology, described the moment as unforgettable, saying, “Helping a family welcome their child at the dawn of a brand-new year is a heartwarming experience. We extend our best wishes to the parents and their little one as they embark on this wonderful journey together.”
Just a minute later, at 12.01am, celebrations continued at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, with the birth of another baby boy, Hamdan, weighing 2.470kg. Born to Al Hosani and Salma Malalla Ali Alhosani, his arrival was met with smiles, congratulations and New Year cheer from hospital staff.
The father shared his joy, “We are happy that our son was born on New Year’s Day, which is an auspicious occasion and represents a new beginning for people across the world.”
Indian parents Rakhi and Mayur Patil welcomed a baby boy at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, at 12:11am on January 1, 2026, marking a joyful New Year arrival for the family. The newborn, recorded as “Baby of Rakhi,” is the couple’s third child after two daughters, weighing 3.410 kg and delivered via caesarean section at 40 weeks of gestation.
Rakhi, a homemaker, and Mayur, an aircraft maintenance engineer, said they were “very thrilled to welcome a baby boy on New Year’s Eve” into their family. The delivery was overseen by Dr Kiran Mehndiratta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, who said she was excited to welcome a baby boy into Rakhi and Mayur’s family after two beautiful girls.
A precious start in Dubai
At International Modern Hospital in Dubai, joy was tinged with relief and gratitude as baby Umama Sufyan was born at 12:14am, weighing 2.35kg. Delivered at 38 weeks of gestation, the pregnancy had been closely monitored due to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
For Umama’s parents — Sufyan Ali and Saima Naz — the moment carried profound emotional weight. It followed a difficult journey marked by three previous miscarriages, making the New Year arrival especially meaningful.
Dr Komila Singhal Verma, Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist at International Modern Hospital, said, “I am very happy to have been able to deliver safely the baby of patient Saima at the start of the new year. It was a precious pregnancy after three miscarriages and complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension and IUGR in present pregnancy.”
As the New Year dawned, the delivery room became a space of renewed hope — one family’s long-awaited beginning aligning with the promise of a fresh year.
A baby boy was born to Indian parents Abdul Shereef and Shalda Abdul Shereef at Aster Hospital, Al Mankhool, in Dubai on January 1, 2026, at 7.42am through normal delivery.
Speaking after the birth, the father, Abdul Shereef, expressed his gratitude to the medical team, saying, “Thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff of Aster Hospital Mankhool for the excellent support during my wife’s delivery. We are truly grateful for the kindness and professionalism. We will always remember your kindness.”
Sharjah baby
Zulekha Hospital Sharjah welcomed a New Year’s Day delivery in the early hours of January 1, 2026. A baby was born at 2.24am to mother Ashra Malik, with the delivery overseen by Dr Megha Mathur, Specialist Gynaecologist, marking a joyful and hopeful start to the year for the family and hospital alike.
First cry in Fujairah
In Fujairah, the New Year brought a life-changing moment for a young family at Thumbay Hospital. Baby girl Kafayat Uyomide, of Nigerian nationality, was born at 2.41am, weighing 3.27kg. Her mother, aged 36, welcomed her first child, alongside the baby’s 29-year-old father.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the mother said, “I’m very happy, I cannot explain how happy I am to have my first baby.”
The hospital also celebrated the arrival of a healthy baby boy, born exactly at midnight on January 1, 2026, to an Indian family. The newborn, registered as “Baby of Aswathy Krishnan,” weighed 4.26 kg and was delivered via Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS).
Bundle of joy in RAK
As the New Year dawned in Ras Al Khaimah, RAK Hospital marked a joyful milestone with the arrival of its first baby of 2026 — a baby girl named Shamma, born at 6.28am on January 1.
Born to proud Emirati parents, Shamma weighed 3.4kg at birth and is the first child in the family. Her father, Hussein Alshahabi, shared that the family feels “very happy and blessed to have their first baby born on New Year’s Day”, describing the moment as a memorable way to begin the year.
Hospital staff said the early-morning delivery set a positive and hopeful tone for 2026, with doctors and nurses welcoming the newborn with warmth and celebration. The delivery was attended by Dr Lalitha Kamini, Specialist – Obstetrics and Gynecology at RAK Hospital, who highlighted the significance of welcoming a New Year baby.
“We are honored to welcome the first baby of the New Year at RAK Hospital. Baby Shamma’s arrival is a moment of joy for all of us, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the family. Beginning the year with the birth of a healthy child is truly a blessing, and we wish the parents and their little one good health, happiness, and a bright future ahead.”
www.khaleejtimes.com (Article Sourced Website)
#UAE #welcomes #Year #babies #born #midnight