What happened? Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted Garmin naming rights for the current ONPASSIVE Metro Station under a 10-year agreement.
Who is affected? Dubai Metro passengers using the Red Line, as the station name will change across physical and digital transport systems.
Why does it matter? The deal highlights how Dubai uses its public transport network to attract private investment and give international brands long-term visibility.
- Location: Dubai Metro Red Line
- Organisation: RTA, with Garmin’s UAE distributor AMIT Retail
- Status: Name change rolling out from September to November 2026
- Who is affected: Dubai Metro passengers and public transport users
- Business impact: Garmin gains long-term branding across a major transport network
- What’s next: Signs, apps, maps and onboard announcements will be updated to Garmin Metro Station
Dubai’s ONPASSIVE Metro Station will be renamed Garmin Metro Station under a new 10-year naming-rights agreement, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced. The station is located on the Dubai Metro Red Line, and the new name will gradually appear across station signs, digital systems, public transport applications and onboard announcements between September and the end of November 2026. The change gives Garmin a long-term presence across one of Dubai’s most widely used transport networks, while passengers will need to get familiar with the updated station name.
When will ONPASSIVE Metro Station become Garmin Metro Station?
The name change will not happen overnight.
According to RTA, the transition is taking place from September until the end of November 2026. During this period, the authority will update internal and external directional signs, digital platforms and public transport applications.
The change will also extend to onboard audio announcements, meaning passengers travelling on the Metro will eventually hear Garmin Metro Station instead of ONPASSIVE Metro Station.
RTA has advised passengers to take note of the new name and speak to station staff if they need help during the transition.
For regular commuters, the practical change is fairly simple: the station itself is not moving or being rebuilt. It is the branding and name that are changing.
Why was the station called ONPASSIVE?
The station has not always carried the ONPASSIVE name.
Before the technology company secured its naming rights, the station was known as Al Safa Metro Station. RTA granted ONPASSIVE naming rights for the station in 2023 under a 10-year agreement.
The latest deal effectively brings a new commercial partner into that naming-rights arrangement.
Garmin’s rights have been secured through AMIT Retail LLC, the brand’s exclusive distributor in the UAE. AMIT Retail and Hypermedia signed the agreement, with Mada Media overseeing the naming-rights arrangement under its concession agreement with RTA.
This means passengers may see several layers of change across the transport network, including station signage, maps, navigation systems and digital services.
Dubai has been using Metro stations as advertising platforms since 2009
The Garmin deal is part of a much larger programme.
RTA launched its Dubai Metro Stations Naming Rights Initiative in 2009, allowing companies to associate their brands with Metro stations across the emirate.
Over the years, the programme has brought commercial names into everyday journeys for residents, workers and tourists.
The model goes beyond putting a company’s name above a station entrance. Naming-rights partnerships can give brands visibility through station signs, maps, navigation systems, smart applications and onboard announcements.
Recent agreements have included naming rights for other Metro stations, showing that the programme remains an important part of Dubai’s approach to private-sector participation in public transport infrastructure.
What does the Garmin deal mean for Dubai?
For Garmin, the agreement offers exposure to people who use Dubai’s transport network as part of their daily routines.
The company is known for GPS navigation, smartwatches and other technology products focused on areas including fitness, outdoor activities and connected devices. Its presence on the Metro network therefore creates a direct link between the brand and Dubai’s wider smart-city and mobility ecosystem.
RTA Rail Agency CEO Abdul Mohsen Kalbat said Garmin’s participation demonstrates the naming-rights programme’s ability to attract leading companies from different sectors.
He added that the initiative supports public-private partnerships, attracts investment in transport assets and contributes to the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Garmin CEO Clifton Pemble also welcomed the partnership, saying the company was pleased to collaborate with RTA and its UAE distributor.
The Metro naming programme is expanding with Dubai’s transport network
The Garmin announcement comes as Dubai continues to expand its Metro system.
One of the biggest upcoming developments is the Dubai Metro Blue Line, which is scheduled to begin operations on 9 September 2029.
The Blue Line will add a new 30-kilometre route to Dubai’s rail network, including underground and elevated sections. It is expected to connect key areas of the emirate and improve access to Dubai’s existing Metro network.
The naming-rights model is also being extended to the Blue Line, creating opportunities for companies to associate their brands with future stations.
That makes the Garmin agreement part of a broader commercial strategy rather than an isolated station-name change.
For Dubai residents and visitors, the immediate impact is knowing that ONPASSIVE Metro Station will gradually become Garmin Metro Station.
Passengers who rely on Metro apps, station maps and audio announcements may notice both names during the transition period.
For Garmin and its UAE distributor, the agreement provides long-term visibility across a major transport network. For RTA, the deal supports a wider model of working with private companies while generating commercial value from existing transport infrastructure.
The change also shows how familiar Dubai landmarks and transport locations can evolve as naming-rights partnerships change.
FAQs
Which Dubai Metro station is becoming Garmin Metro Station?
ONPASSIVE Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line is being renamed Garmin Metro Station under a 10-year naming-rights agreement.
When will the Garmin Metro Station name be introduced?
RTA says the name change will be rolled out from September through the end of November 2026.
Will the station location change?
No. The agreement changes the station’s name and branding, not its physical location.
Where will the new Garmin name appear?
RTA will update station signs, directional signs, digital systems, public transport applications and onboard Metro announcements.
Who secured the Garmin naming rights?
AMIT Retail LLC, Garmin’s exclusive distributor in the UAE, secured the naming rights through an agreement involving Hypermedia, with Mada Media overseeing the arrangement under its RTA concession.
Dubai’s ONPASSIVE Metro Station is set for another name change, with Garmin Metro Station gradually replacing the existing name by the end of November 2026. While the change is commercial, it will be noticeable to thousands of passengers through station signs, apps, maps and onboard announcements. The deal also underlines the continued role of Dubai’s Metro naming-rights programme in connecting global brands with the city’s expanding transport network.
Follow Social Kandura for more updates on local news and things to do in Dubai and across the UAE.
Read More
