It was a National Day to remember for parents who welcomed new family members in the early hours of Monday.
Khadijeh Cheragheleh and Yaqqb Al Hammadi were one of the first Emirati parents to celebrate the joy of a newborn with the arrival of Diyab shortly after midnight.
Maternity staff delivered the boy at Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah, ensuring celebrations started early for Mr Cheragheleh.
"We believe that National Day this year will be a lucky day for us, and it has certainly started on the best note possible,” he said.
Only 20 minutes later and the hospital welcomed its second National Day newborn.
Sama was born at 12.32am to Jordanians Anas Al Baltosh and Duha Al Qawatneh.
Both infants were delivered by Dr Rebab Helmi, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant.
At NMC Specialty Hospital in Al Ain, a girl was born to first-time parents, Mr and Mrs Mohammed Mohammed, at 12.15am.
Mariam was delivered via Caesarean section, with moderate respiratory distress and suspected sepsis. Doctors rushed her to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she has since stabilised but will be monitored for about a week.
Mr Mohammed said he was delighted to become a father after six years of marriage, but would be happier still when he and his wife could bring their daughter home.
It was also a busy start to the festivities at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
New mum Mary Grace Macaligar, from the Philippines, gave birth to Rayan Foukajdi in the first minute of the day.
Dad Mehdi Foukajdi, from Morocco, was delighted to welcome a National Day baby into the family.
“We are very happy that God has blessed us with a healthy baby boy and this is the most precious moment of our lives,” he said.
Rayan, weighing 3kg, was the only baby born at the hospital on Monday.
“Delivering a baby on such a proud occasion is an incredible feeling and we are very happy that it happened here at Burjeel Hospital,” said Dr Fady Hachem.
“We wish a happy and a healthy life for this little bundle of joy.”
At Aster Hospital Mankhool, baby Murtaza was born to Tanveer Abbas and Shabana Bano. The parents, from India, welcomed their son at 2.05am, weighing in at 3kg.
"We are very proud and happy to have had our first baby on National Day," the family said.
In Mohammad Bin Zayed City, doctors at Bareen Hospital were working hard in the early hours to ensure the safe arrival of Emirati boy Hamad.
He arrived at 8.54am, and is the second child to parents Mr and Mrs Mohammad Al Marri.
Hamad was delivered via Caesarean section and weighed 2.7kg.
