Newborns arriving in the early hours of Eid Al Etihad made it a memorable 53rd National Day for parents across the UAE.
Emirati parents Mohammed Mohammed Alai Al Naqbi and Noura Al Balushi welcomed their first child at Burjeel Medical City. Baby Shamma was born at 12.05am, weighing 2.88kg.
“We chose the name Shamma for our first daughter because it holds special significance within the Emirati community,” Mr Al Naqbi said. “It symbolises prestige, pride and resilience, which are integral to our culture. We are thrilled that our baby arrived on this joyous occasion cherished by all Emiratis, a day celebrated throughout the country.”
Stroke of midnight
At Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Yousef arrived at exactly 12am on Eid Al Etihad, weighing 2.70kg. Proud Emirati parents Talal Al Malagith and Khawla Mohamed Shukralla Abdulla were overjoyed to add a third child to their family.
“The UAE holds a special place in our hearts every day, and now, with our little one sharing this significant day with the nation, it adds a unique joy to our celebrations each year,” the parents said. “We will cherish this beautiful memory for ever.”
At 1am at BMC, Maimona Chowdhury was born weighing 2.7kg to Bangladeshi parents AHM Ziauddin Chowdhury and Mosammat Farzana Yeasmin. She is the couple’s third child.
It was a similar happy scene at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, where Bhushan Balajirao Tapke and wife Nupur Bhushan Tapke celebrated the arrival of Nupur at 2.11am. The birth signalled a new beginning for the Indian family, as they became parents for the first time.
“We are overwhelmed with joy to welcome our baby girl on this special UAE National Day – a moment that makes this day even more unforgettable for our family,” said Ms Tapke.
At NMC Speciality Hospital in Abu Dhabi, electrical engineer Indranil Bhattacharya and his wife Antara had their second child, Antara, who weighed 2.87kg.
“I have spent 20 years of my career in the UAE, so December 2 is a very special day for me," Mr Bhattacharya said. "It became more special now with my second daughter seeing the first light on the Earth on this special day.”
At the Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children in Abu Dhabi, a girl was welcomed into the world, making it a National Day to remember for her parents from India.
At 4.17am and weighing 3.08kg, the arrival of Swetha made it a special day for father Jayaram Subburaj. “Welcoming our daughter on such a momentous day fills us with indescribable gratitude and pride,” he said.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Rating: 3.5/5
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
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Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
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