Dubai Metro passengers using ONPASSIVE Metro Station will need to get used to a new name, with the station being renamed Garmin Metro Station under a 10-year naming rights agreement.
The change is part of Dubai’s Metro Stations Naming Rights Initiative and will affect station signs, digital systems and public transport applications as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) rolls out the new name between September and the end of November 2026.
For passengers, the key point is that this is a station-name change rather than a change to the Metro route. RTA has advised passengers to note the new name and speak to station teams if they need assistance during the transition.
Garmin Metro Station: What is changing?
ONPASSIVE Metro Station will be known as Garmin Metro Station under the 10-year agreement between RTA and AMIT Retail LLC, Garmin’s exclusive distributor in the UAE.
Garmin specialises in smart devices and GPS navigation technology.
The new name will gradually appear across the station’s public-facing infrastructure. RTA will update:
- Internal and external directional signs
- Digital systems
- Public transport applications
- Onboard audio announcements
The rollout is scheduled to take place from September through the end of November 2026, so passengers may encounter the old and new station names during the transition.
The agreement concerns naming rights, meaning the principal change for passengers is the name used on signs, maps, announcements, applications and other transport information.
Naming rights also provide Garmin with brand visibility through the station and associated transport channels, as well as opportunities for promotional and community activities.
What should Dubai Metro passengers do?
Passengers who normally use ONPASSIVE Metro Station should make a note that it is becoming Garmin Metro Station.
Because the name will be updated across different systems over a period running until the end of November, travellers may see different references while the changes are being implemented.
RTA has advised passengers to contact station teams for assistance if they are unsure about the station name or need help during the transition.
For anyone planning journeys using Dubai’s public transport applications, maps or station information, the updated Garmin name will become increasingly visible as the rollout progresses.
Why is ONPASSIVE Metro Station being renamed?
The renaming forms part of RTA’s long-running Dubai Metro Stations Naming Rights Initiative, which was launched in 2009.
Under the initiative, companies can obtain naming rights associated with Metro stations, giving brands a presence across Dubai’s transport network.
Abdul Mohsen Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency, said Garmin’s participation demonstrates the initiative’s ability to attract leading brands from diverse business sectors.
He said the initiative strengthens public-private partnerships, attracts investment in transport assets and increases their economic value, supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
Mansoor Al Sabahi, CEO of Mada Media, welcomed Garmin to the portfolio of naming rights partners on the Red Line. He said the initiative, managed by Hypermedia under Mada Media’s supervision, enables companies to connect with residents and visitors through stations that form part of their daily journeys.
Garmin CEO Clifton Pemble said, “We are proud to collaborate with RTA and our valued distributor AMIT Retail to help people move through the world with greater confidence, connection and purpose.”
The agreement was signed by AMIT Retail and Hypermedia in the presence of Mada Media, which manages Dubai’s out-of-home advertising sector and oversees naming rights agreements under its concession agreement with RTA.
For commuters, however, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: ONPASSIVE Metro Station is becoming Garmin Metro Station, and the new name will be progressively reflected across Dubai Metro information systems through November.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
