Dubai renames metro stations after fashion stores

Al Jafiliya station has been renamed Max Fashion and Al Rashidiya will be Centrepoint

Most people take the train for just a few stops and then get off. Others, however, stay longer.

The journey from Ibn Battuta, one of the first stations on the red line, to Rashidya, at the end of the line 39km away, took exactly one hour and cost less than Dh6.

At 9am, travelling north into Dubai rather than in the direction of Abu Dhabi, there is not much in the way of fellow commuters. Most people, a security guard at the station said, tend to travel the other way from Khalid Bin Al Waleed station and Deira City Centre to Jebel Ali Free Zone.

A view of Dubai International from Dubai metro.

Two metro stations in Dubai will be renamed after shops in a deal with the retail chain Landmark Group, the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority said.

Al Jafiliya and Al Rashidiya stations will become Max Fashion and Centrepoint, respectively, RTA said on Wednesday. Both are on the Red Line.

The renaming process, which will take place from August 4 to October 10, involves updating external signs on the public transport network and its smart and e-systems data.

RTA launched the Metro naming rights initiative in 2009.

Dubai’s metro system consists of three lines – Green, Red and Route 2020.

The Green Line covers 22.5 kilometres and has 20 stations between Al Twar and Dubai Creek.

The Red Line starts at Rashidiya station and ends at UAE Exchange. It has 29 stations – 24 elevated, four underground and one at ground level. People heading towards the UAE Exchange station must currently switch trains at the Jebel Ali interchange.

Route 2020, the newest track, joins the Red Line at Jebel Ali station. When open fully, passengers will be able to travel from Rashidiya station all the way to the Expo 2020 site without changing trains.

On January 1, four new stops opened on Route 2020, connecting the network to The Gardens, Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan districts at Jebel Ali interchange. These stations are elevated and are open to the public.

Two other stations – Dubai Investments Park and Expo 2020 – opened on June 1, but their use is currently restricted, primarily to people involved in Expo 2020.

These stops, and Jumeirah Golf Estates station, will open to the public on October 1 to coincide with the start of the world’s fair.

Fashion show on the Dubai Metro - in pictures

The Fashion Train show by Dubai Shopping Festival and Bloomingdales where a fashion show was held on the Dubai Metro. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National

The five carriages of one train were turned into a moving catwalk.

Tim Hassal, left with guitar, and Co perform during the Fashion Train show.

Tim Hassal (with guitar) and Co perform during the Fashion Train show.

The special edition train went as far as Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro Station, then turned back.

During the first half of the journey, invited guests were shown Bloomgdale's Spring/Summer collection of daytime fashion.

On the trip to Dubai Mall, models strutted evening fashions.

As part of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the event also kicked off Dubai Fashion Week.