ONPASSIVE Metro Station Is Now Garmin Metro Station

Dubai Metro’s Red Line has a new brand on one of its stations. ONPASSIVE Metro Station has been renamed Garmin Metro Station under a 10-year naming rights agreement signed between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), AMIT Retail LLC — Garmin’s sole distributor in the UAE — and Hypermedia, under the supervision of Mada Media, which manages the city’s out-of-home advertising sector.

The agreement was announced on 7 September 2026 via the Dubai Media Office. Garmin, the global brand behind GPS navigation devices and smart fitness watches, becomes the first global brand to take up naming rights on the Red Line.

What Is Changing — and When

RTA will roll out the new name across signage, wayfinding, digital systems and public transport apps from September through the end of November 2026. Onboard audio announcements — the ones you hear before and upon arrival at the station — will be updated too. RTA has asked riders to note the change during the transition, and teams will be available at stations to help passengers and answer questions.

So for the next few weeks, don’t be surprised if maps, apps and announcements disagree with the station signs. They are catching up on different schedules.

A Station With Many Names

If this station sounds familiar, it is. It has been renamed several times over the years:

• Al Safa — the station’s original name
• Noor Bank — after the bank’s naming rights deal
• ONPASSIVE — rebranded in 2023 under the tech company’s sponsorship
• Garmin — from September 2026, under a 10-year deal

Dubai’s station naming rights programme began in 2009 — the first of its kind globally, according to RTA — and has since put brands including Equiti, InsuranceMarket and World Trade Centre on the map. If you are navigating the line, our guides to Equiti metro station, World Trade Centre metro station and Union metro station cover the key stops.

What RTA and the Partners Said

Abdul Mohsen Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency, said Garmin’s participation reaffirms the naming rights programme’s pull with major brands across sectors, and ties into RTA’s push to deepen public-private cooperation and support the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

Clifton Pemble, CEO of Garmin, said the company was proud to collaborate with RTA and AMIT Retail, framing the partnership as a way to help people move through the world with greater confidence — a fitting slogan for a navigation brand on a metro network. Abdul Aziz Abdulla of AMIT Retail added that the deal reinforces the company’s investment in the UAE and its role in promoting healthier, more connected lifestyles.

Practical Notes for Passengers

The station sits between Business Bay and Equiti on the Red Line, close to the Al Safa Park area and a short ride from Dubai Mall. Its location hasn’t changed — only the name. If you are new to the network, our Dubai nol card guide explains fares and card types, and the Museum of the Future is an easy stop nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new name of ONPASSIVE Metro Station?

Garmin Metro Station, under a 10-year naming rights agreement announced on 7 September 2026.

When will the new name appear everywhere?

RTA is updating signage, apps, digital systems and audio announcements progressively from September through the end of November 2026.

Has the station moved or changed location?

No — only the name has changed. It remains on the Red Line between Business Bay and Equiti stations.

What was the station called before?

Most recently ONPASSIVE (since 2023); before that Noor Bank, and originally Al Safa.

Why do Dubai Metro stations keep getting renamed?

RTA runs a station naming rights programme, launched in 2009, that lets brands sponsor station names. It funds transport investment and is described by RTA as the first programme of its kind globally.

Sources: hi Dubai (via Dubai Media Office), Campaign Middle East, Virgin Radio Dubai