As the clock struck 12:00am on January 1, 2026, hospitals across the UAE welcomed a wave of newborns marking the start of the new year. The first baby of 2026 in the UAE, Saeed Saif Al Rumaithi, was born at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi. Saeed, who weighed 3.30kg, is the first child to his Emirati parents, making the moment incredibly special. His name means "happy," matching the joyful atmosphere as doctors and family cheered. Just one minute later, at 12:01am, another baby boy named Hamdan was born at Burjeel Hospital, adding to the early joy. The celebrations continued beyond Abu Dhabi; in Fujairah, an Indian expatriate family welcomed a 4.26kg baby boy at Thumbay Hospital precisely at midnight. At NMC Specialty Hospital in Abu Dhabi, the Patil family greeted their first son at 12:11am, after two daughters. The hospital also celebrated a touching story at 1:00am when nurses Mahalakshmi Mariappan and Nagraj became parents to their first child, a baby boy weighing 2.84kg. Mahalakshmi, normally helping mothers during labor, experienced the miracle firsthand, with Dr. Urvi Tanna Wadhawan delivering the baby. The staff felt proud to welcome “one of their own” into the world. These new year births symbolize more than just a fun fact. For families, they represent new hope and joy. For healthcare workers, they show the continuous care given even on holidays. For the UAE, they reflect the country's diverse community sharing major life moments. Babies born on January 1, 2026, like Saeed and Hamdan, join Generation Alpha — the group born from 2013 to around 2029. This generation is growing up with technology, smartphones, and digital learning already at their fingertips. As the year unfolds, these midnight babies will carry the special story of arriving exactly when 2026 began.