ONPASSIVE Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line has officially been renamed Garmin Station under a naming rights agreement with the global technology and navigation brand.

Mada Media, which oversees the organisation, development and management of out-of-home advertising in Dubai, held an official ceremony for the agreement at the station on Sheikh Zayed Road.

The station, previously known as ONPASSIVE, now carries the Garmin name as part of the Dubai Metro station naming rights programme.

Garmin is the first global brand to join the Dubai Metro station naming rights programme as a partner.

The change follows a 10-year naming rights agreement established in partnership with Hypermedia and AMIT Retail, Garmin’s official distributor in the UAE.

Garmin Station is located on Sheikh Zayed Road and forms part of the Dubai Metro Red Line.

Under its agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, Mada Media is responsible for overseeing naming rights contracts for public transport stations, while Hypermedia works to attract investors for these agreements.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Kalbat, CEO of the RTA’s Rail Agency, said the agreement demonstrated Dubai’s ability to attract international brands to the city’s transport infrastructure.

“I am delighted to witness the signing of the first naming rights agreement for a Dubai Metro station with a global brand such as Garmin. This important partnership reflects Dubai’s forward-looking vision to enhance the value of its strategic assets,” he said.

Preparations Begin for Blue Line Station Naming Rights

Alongside the agreement, plans have also been announced to extend the naming rights programme to stations on the Dubai Metro Blue Line.

Mansoor Al Sabahi, CEO of Mada Media, said the agreement with Garmin marked a new phase in the programme, as the Dubai Metro Blue Line is scheduled to open on September 9, 2029.

The line is expected to serve some of Dubai’s largest and fastest-growing districts, whose combined population is projected to reach about one million by 2040.

Mada Media will also be responsible for attracting suitable investors for station naming rights opportunities along the line.

According to published figures, the station now known as Garmin recorded about 8.5 million passengers in 2025.

More than 33 million people also passed through the brand exposure area around the station, highlighting the location’s strong potential for brand visibility.

Garmin is known for its GPS navigation technology, marine and aviation systems, smartwatches and sports equipment.

Tim Sperling, Garmin’s general manager for Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, said the partnership reflected the company’s continued commitment to the UAE market.

“This milestone reflects our continued commitment to the UAE market, which has played an important role in Garmin’s growth and development across the region,” he said.

The station naming rights programme enables brands to expand their presence across Dubai’s public transport network while leveraging the commercial potential of transport infrastructure to generate sustainable revenue.