Onpassive. Garmin. Noor Bank. Al Safa. Four names, one station. If Dubai Metro station names confuse you, there’s a reason: RTA sells naming rights to brands, and when deals expire or companies rebrand, the station name changes with them. In September 2026 alone, Onpassive became Garmin overnight.
This 2026 guide explains the naming-rights programme, lists every renamed station with dates, and shows how to navigate a network where names move but codes don’t.
Why Dubai Sells Station Names
RTA launched the Metro Station Naming Rights Initiative in 2009 — the first programme of its kind in the world. Companies buy 10-year naming deals (overseen by RTA’s concessionaire Mada Media), putting their brand on signage, maps, apps, and announcements at some of the highest-footfall locations in the Middle East.
- Revenue: the programme has generated over AED 1.8 billion for the city.
- Scale: at one point, 23 of the network’s stations carried corporate names.
- Why names change: deals expire, companies rebrand (Etisalat → e&), or new sponsors outbid old ones.
- Rollout: RTA phases each rename across signage, apps, and audio announcements over 2–3 months — during transitions, old and new names coexist.
Every Renamed Red Line Station
| Code | Current name | Previous names (newest → oldest) |
|---|---|---|
| R29 | Garmin | Onpassive (2023–2026) → Al Safa (2020–2023) → Noor Bank (2010–2020). Renamed 7 Sept 2026, 10-year deal. |
| R42 | Life Pharmacy | UAE Exchange → Jebel Ali. Renamed 5 May 2025. |
| R38 | National Paints | Jebel Ali → Nakheel Harbour and Tower. Renamed 1 Jul 2025, 10-year deal. |
| R33 | InsuranceMarket | Mashreq (2020–2024) → Sharaf DG. Renamed 5 Sept 2024, 10-year deal. |
| R35 | Al Fardan Exchange | Al Khail (2020–2025) → Nakheel. Renamed 1 Apr 2025. |
| R36 | Sobha Realty | Dubai Marina (2020–2021) → DAMAC Properties (2014–2020) → Dubai Marina (2010–2014). Renamed 9 Aug 2021. |
| R37 | DMCC | JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers). Renamed 1 Sept 2018. |
| R31 | Equiti | Umm Al Sheif. Renamed 24 Nov 2020. |
| R21 | Max | Al Jafiliya. Renamed 4 Aug 2021 (Max Fashion). |
| R20 | ADCB | Al Karama. Renamed 15 Sept 2014. |
| R19 | BurJuman | Khalid Bin Al Waleed. Renamed 13 Nov 2012. |
| R11 | Centrepoint | Al Rashidiya. Renamed 2021. |
| R41 | Danube | Jebel Ali Industrial. Renamed 13 Nov 2012. |
| R40 | Energy | DUBAL (Dubai Aluminium). Renamed 2015. |
Every Renamed Green Line Station
| Code | Current name | Previous names |
|---|---|---|
| G11 | e& | Etisalat by e& (2023–2024) → Etisalat (2011–2023). Rebrand-driven, Sept 2024. |
| G22 | Gold Souq | Palm Deira. Renamed May 2020. |
| G25 | Sharaf DG | Al Fahidi. Renamed 24 Nov 2020. |
The 2024–2026 Rename Wave
Naming activity has accelerated: InsuranceMarket (Sept 2024), Al Fardan Exchange (Apr 2025), Life Pharmacy (May 2025), National Paints (Jul 2025), and Garmin (Sept 2026) — five Red Line renames in two years. The pattern: 10-year deals signed in the mid-2010s are expiring, and new sponsors are bidding aggressively. Expect more.
How RTA Rolls Out a Rename
- Announcement: RTA and the brand announce the deal (e.g. Garmin, 7 Sept 2026).
- Phase-in (2–3 months): physical signage, platform boards, and wayfinding update first.
- Digital: S’hail app, Google Maps, and journey planners follow.
- Audio: onboard announcements are re-recorded last.
During the window, you’ll hear the old name on the train while seeing the new one on the platform — normal, not an error.
Tips for Navigating the Name Maze
- Learn the codes of stations you use often (R25, G22, R36).
- Taxi drivers often know old names best — “Dubai Marina metro” still works for Sobha Realty.
- Old blog posts and videos will show outdated names — cross-check the code.
- Google Maps usually updates within weeks of a rename; RTA’s S’hail app is the authority.
- Blue Line (2029): Mada Media is already marketing naming rights for the new line’s stations — including Emaar Properties at Dubai Creek Harbour.
Watch: Dubai Metro Red Line Timelapse (2026)
Last updated: October 2026. Rename dates per RTA announcements; the Garmin phase-in runs through November 2026.
The Garmin Deal: Inside September 2026’s Rename
The most recent rename shows how the programme works in practice:
- Deal: 10-year naming rights granted 7 September 2026 (RTA announcement).
- Parties: RTA, AMIT Retail (Garmin’s sole UAE distributor), and Hypermedia — signed under Mada Media’s supervision.
- Rollout: September through end of November 2026 — station signs, maps, digital systems and apps first, then onboard audio announcements. RTA station teams are on hand to assist passengers during the transition.
- Milestone: Garmin is the first global brand on the Red Line’s naming roster, per Mada Media’s CEO — a sign of the programme’s pull.
- Context: RTA’s Rail Agency CEO tied the deal to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33): naming rights turn transport assets into investment platforms.
The Complete Rename Timeline (2009–2026)
Every rename in chronological order (from the tables above):
| Year | Station (code) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | R19, R41 | Khalid Bin Al Waleed → BurJuman; Jebel Ali Industrial → Danube |
| 2014 | R20, R36 | Al Karama → ADCB; Dubai Marina → DAMAC Properties |
| 2015 | R40 | DUBAL → Energy |
| 2018 | R37 | JLT → DMCC |
| 2020 | R31, R33, R36, G22, G25 | Umm Al Sheif → Equiti; Sharaf DG → Mashreq; DAMAC → Dubai Marina (reverted); Palm Deira → Gold Souq; Al Fahidi → Sharaf DG |
| 2021 | R11, R21, R36 | Al Rashidiya → Centrepoint; Al Jafiliya → Max; Dubai Marina → Sobha Realty |
| 2023 | R29 | Al Safa → Onpassive |
| 2024 | G11, R33 | Etisalat → e& (rebrand); Mashreq → InsuranceMarket |
| 2025 | R35, R42, R38 | Al Khail → Al Fardan Exchange; UAE Exchange → Life Pharmacy; Jebel Ali → National Paints |
| 2026 | R29 | Onpassive → Garmin |
Who Is Mada Media?
- RTA’s concessionaire for the station naming-rights programme — it oversees every deal under a concession agreement with RTA.
- Dubai’s out-of-home advertising manager — station naming sits inside its wider ad portfolio.
- Deal broker: the Garmin agreement was signed by AMIT Retail and Hypermedia in Mada Media’s presence.
- Blue Line: Mada Media is already marketing naming rights for the 2029 line’s stations — Emaar Properties station (Dubai Creek Harbour) is confirmed with a 10-year deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Dubai Metro stations change names?
RTA sells naming rights to companies on 10-year deals. Names change when deals expire, new sponsors bid, or companies rebrand (e.g. Etisalat → e&).
What was Garmin station called before?
Onpassive (2023–2026), Al Safa (2020–2023), and originally Noor Bank (2010–2020). RTA granted Garmin 10-year naming rights on 7 September 2026; the code stays R29.
What was Life Pharmacy station called?
UAE Exchange (and before that, Jebel Ali). Renamed 5 May 2025. It’s the Red Line’s southern terminus, code R42.
Do station codes change when names change?
Never. Codes (R25, G22, R36) are permanent — that’s why they’re the reliable way to navigate. Only the commercial name changes.
How long does a station rename take?
RTA phases each rename over 2–3 months across signage, apps, and onboard announcements. During the transition, old and new names coexist.
Which stations were renamed in 2025?
Al Fardan Exchange (ex-Al Khail, Apr 2025), Life Pharmacy (ex-UAE Exchange, May 2025), and National Paints (ex-Jebel Ali, Jul 2025) — plus InsuranceMarket (ex-Mashreq) in Sept 2024.
Why is it called Sobha Realty instead of Dubai Marina?
Developer Sobha Realty bought the naming rights in August 2021. The station was Dubai Marina (2010–2014 and 2020–2021) and DAMAC Properties (2014–2020) in between. Code R36.
Will Blue Line stations have corporate names?
Likely. Mada Media is already marketing Blue Line naming rights — Emaar Properties station (Dubai Creek Harbour) is confirmed with a 10-year deal.
How much money does RTA make from station names?
Over AED 1.8 billion across the programme’s lifetime — a significant revenue stream supporting public transport development.
My map says Onpassive but the station says Garmin — which is right?
Garmin — renamed 7 September 2026. Update your apps; RTA’s S’hail app is the authority during the Sept–Nov 2026 transition.
What happened to Onpassive metro station?
Renamed Garmin on 7 September 2026 under a 10-year deal — the first global brand on the Red Line’s naming roster. The code stays R29.
Who is Mada Media?
RTA’s concessionaire overseeing the station naming-rights programme — it also manages Dubai’s out-of-home advertising sector.
How many stations have been renamed in total?
17 across both lines: 14 on the Red Line and 3 on the Green Line (per the tables above).
Which names has the Garmin station (R29) carried?
Four names, one code: Noor Bank (2010–2020) → Al Safa (2020–2023) → Onpassive (2023–2026) → Garmin (2026–).
Keep exploring: Dubai Metro Stations Guide · Red Line Guide · Green Line Guide · Sobha Realty Station · Business Bay Station
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