A familiar Dubai Metro station name is changing again – and for the next few months, commuters may see both the old and new names in circulation.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has granted Garmin the naming rights to the station currently known as ONPASSIVE Metro Station through AMIT Retail LLC, Garmin’s exclusive distributor in the UAE.
Under the agreement, which runs for 10 years, the station will become Garmin Metro Station.
For commuters, the useful part of the story is not really the commercial agreement.
It is the transition period.
When will the name actually change?
RTA says the update will be rolled out from September until the end of November 2026.
During that period, the Garmin name will progressively appear across:
- external and internal station signage;
- digital passenger-information systems;
- RTA public-transport apps;
- navigation and wayfinding systems; and
- onboard Metro announcements before and upon arrival at the station.
That means the change will not necessarily appear everywhere at exactly the same moment.
For a while, residents may still hear or see references to ONPASSIVE while other parts of the network already use Garmin Metro Station.
The station itself is not moving
This is the most important practical point.
The station remains in the same location and serves the same Metro line.
Only the station name is changing.
So if an old Google Maps pin, office location, WhatsApp message or appointment instruction still says ONPASSIVE Metro Station, it may still be referring to the correct physical station.
Why this can cause temporary confusion
Dubai Metro station names are often used as landmarks well beyond the rail network itself.
People use them when arranging:
- meetings;
- deliveries;
- taxis;
- property viewings;
- office directions; and
- visitor pickup points.
A name change therefore affects more than the sign above the platform.
Someone visiting Dubai may search for the new name while a resident still gives directions using the old one.
That is why mentioning both names temporarily can be useful.
For example:
Garmin Metro Station – formerly ONPASSIVE Metro Station
That makes the transition much clearer.
What commuters should do
During the September-to-November changeover:
- check the latest RTA app or journey planner before travelling;
- use both names when giving directions if necessary;
- update workplace, event and visitor information that still mentions ONPASSIVE;
- do not assume the station has moved simply because the name has changed; and
- ask RTA staff at stations if the transition causes confusion.
RTA has specifically said station teams will be available to assist passengers during the rollout period.
Why does Dubai rename Metro stations?
The change is part of RTA’s long-running Metro Station Naming Rights Initiative, launched in 2009.
Companies can secure naming rights for stations, giving brands visibility across maps, signage, onboard announcements and digital transport systems. RTA describes the programme as a public-private partnership model that helps generate commercial value from transport assets.
MalluMetro Take
For most commuters, this is a small update.
But small changes can create unnecessary confusion when a station name is used in everyday directions.
The simplest approach over the next few months is:
Garmin Metro Station = the station formerly known as ONPASSIVE Metro Station.
The location has not changed.
The signs, apps and announcements are simply catching up with the new name.