A station on Dubai Metro’s Red Line, previously called Onpassive Station, has been renamed Garmin Station, marking the first time a global brand has signed a naming rights agreement for a Dubai Metro stop.
The agreement was formalised at an official ceremony attended by senior representatives from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Mada Media, Garmin, and Hypermedia.
Mada Media holds a concession with the RTA to oversee naming rights agreements for public transport stations in Dubai. Hypermedia, the company responsible for attracting investors to the programme across the Red and Green Lines, facilitated the deal with Garmin’s official UAE distributor, AMIT Retail Group.
“I am pleased to witness the signing of the first Dubai Metro station naming rights agreement with a global brand such as Garmin, a landmark partnership that reflects Dubai’s forward-looking vision for maximising the value of its strategic assets. This agreement reinforces the emirate’s position as a premier destination for global brands, advances its economic development ambitions, and exemplifies the strength of public-private collaboration in creating sustainable value, enhancing competitiveness, and further elevating Dubai’s standing as a global hub for innovation, investment, and business excellence,” Abdul Muhsen Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency said in a statement.
Garmin Station, situated on Sheikh Zayed Road, recorded approximately 8.5 million passenger journeys in 2025. An estimated 33 million people passed by brand displays in the surrounding area, representing an audience reach of around 50%.
“I am pleased to welcome renowned global brand Garmin as the first global partner in Dubai Metro Naming Rights Agreements for Red and Green Line stations. This marks a significant step forward for the programme, opening it up to a broader global audience and demonstrating the success of this unique initiative in attracting leading international brands. These brands are selected following a series of detailed assessments to determine their suitability for the station and its surrounding urban environment, as well as the profile of its users. The aim is to ensure the strongest possible investment returns for both parties. The selection process also considers several other factors, most importantly whether the brand’s values and messaging align with the broader values and principles of the emirate. This alignment is clearly reflected in Garmin’s products and tools, which encourage movement and physical activity while inspiring people to overcome challenges,” Mansoor Al Sabahi, Chief Executive Officer of Mada Media futher explained.
“This agreement is the result of the joint efforts of Mada Media and Hypermedia to advance the Naming Rights Initiative. It also marks a new phase for the naming rights agreements for Dubai Metro Blue Line stations, ahead of the line’s opening on 9 September 2029. We are responsible for attracting suitable investors in line with the strategic importance of this line, which will serve one of the emirate’s largest and fastest-growing urban areas. The area is expected to have a population of 1 million by 2040,” he said.
“Garmin brand is honoured to be part of the official opening of the Garmin-branded Metro station in Dubai. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to the UAE market that has played an important role in Garmin’s growth and development across the region. We are proud to see the Garmin brand become part of Dubai’s dynamic urban landscape and look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to bring our expertise in technology, innovation and active lifestyles to consumers in the UAE,” Tim Spurling, General Manager of Garmin for Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa added.
Garmin is best known for GPS navigation technology across land, marine and aviation applications, and manufactures a range of smart sports watches and fitness devices.
