UAE Flag Day made it a week to remember for an Abu Dhabi family who, in this challenging year, welcomed their third child.
Mohamed Atef, 39, and wife Heba, 36, were dealt a hammer blow when their first born, Dalida, was found to have leukaemia.
After months of chemotherapy, the brave two-year-old is now out of hospital and looking forward to welcoming her mum and new baby brother back home.
She finished a six-month course of chemotherapy on Saturday – just three days before the family were delivered further good news.
Little Younis was born at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City on Tuesday, against the backdrop of a nationwide celebration.
The family has a habit of making such occasions all the more memorable.
Older brother Yousef was born on UAE National Day last year, strengthening the family's bond with the country.
Flag Day was introduced in 2013 to commemorate the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as President of the UAE in 2004.
It will now be an extra special date for the Atefs.
“It has been a busy few days,” said proud father Mohamed. The Egyptian has been manager of a car rental company in Abu Dhabi for 14 years.
“There was no plan for Heba to give birth on Flag Day, it just happened.
“At the same night that my wife started to feel pain we went into the hospital and it was done. It was all totally out of our expectations.
“After the birth I was telling my wife that Younis was born a day after the Flag Day, it was then Heba told me I had the wrong date and he was in fact born on the same day.”
Mr Atef, who was born in the UAE but returned to the country to work only in 2004, said the family was relieved the arrival of Younis, weighing 3.2 kilograms, came three days after Dalida was allowed to go home after her chemotherapy.
Like her mother, she is also on the road to recovery.
“Dalida had been receiving treatment for six months, but thanks to God she finished the treatment on the Saturday and Younis was born on Tuesday,” Mr Atef said.
“Thankfully everything was handled at the proper time and it worked out well.
“It had been a long and hard time for us all, but she is much better than before.
“It has been really very difficult, but we have all survived this and now look forward to our future together.”
Flag Day lifts spirits across the nation:
-
One-year-old Ava walks through the sea of flags at Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Health workers raise the flag at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Victor Besa / The National -
The UAE flag is lifted high at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
UAE flags on the boundary wall of the Umm Suqeim Girls School in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Giant UAE flags adorn the Medcare Hospital in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
A huge flag is draped over The Palace Nursery in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Al Manara Centre in Dubai marks UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National -
A row of UAE flags made for a stunning sight at Kite Beach, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The UAE flag is positioned on a building in Internet City, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
A building in Internet City is decked out in red, white, green and black. Pawan Singh / The National -
Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A lady admires the flags on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A beachgoer looks on at the row of national flags lined on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
