diff --git a/ui/widgets/tabs.js b/ui/widgets/tabs.js
index 0dd165d4a01..58a65ebe806 100644
--- a/ui/widgets/tabs.js
+++ b/ui/widgets/tabs.js
@@ -431,7 +431,6 @@ $.widget( "ui.tabs", {
 			return $( "a", this )[ 0 ];
 		} )
 			.attr( {
-				role: "presentation",
 				tabIndex: -1
 			} );
 		this._addClass( this.anchors, "ui-tabs-anchor" );