Dubai's RTA changes names of five metro stations

Work on renaming the metro stations will start on Wednesday

The Expo 2020 metro station will initially be used by employees and other eligible travellers to the site of the world fair. Courtesy Dubai RTA

A look at two new stations that will open up in June on the Expo 2020 Metro Red Line. Courtesy: Dubai RTA

View of the newly completed Discovery Gardens metro station in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Al Furjan metro station in Dubai. Route 2020 will open to the public in January. The extension of the Red Line includes seven new stations, including Al Furjan. Pawan Singh / The National

The elevated line can be seen at Al Furjan metro station. Route 2020, which connects the city with the Expo site, has been under construction for the past four years. Pawan Singh / The National

Discovery Gardens metro station is one of the seven stations on the new route leading to the Expo 2020 sites. Pawan Singh / The National

An estimated 270,000 live in the Discovery Gardens, Jebel Ali, Al Furjan and Jumeirah Golf Estate areas. Pawan Singh / The National

A metro train passes a residential building in Al Furjan, Dubai. Residents of the area say they are looking forward to using the new transport link. Pawan Singh / The National

The extension to the line should mean fewer people will rely on private cars or taxis to get around. Pawan Singh / The National

Workers put finishing touches on Al Furjan metro station. The station is one of seven on Route 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

Workers at the Discovery Gardens metro station. Pawan Singh / The National

Construction on the metro stations has been under way for the past four years. Pawan Singh / The National

Five popular metro stations in Dubai have been renamed, it was announced on Tuesday.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has renamed Sharaf DG to AlFahidi; First Abu Dhabi Bank to Umm Al Sheef Station; Noor Bank to Al Safa; Damac to Dubai Marina; and Nakheel to Al Khail.

Hasan Al Mutawa, director of rail operation at the RTA’s Rail Agency, said the work to rename the five stations will start on November 25, 2020 and will continue until the first week of February 2021.

The renaming process involves updating names on the external signs and the smart and e-systems of the public transport network.

“The metro stations naming rights initiative offers an investment opportunity to private firms and organisations in various trading, financial and service sectors in the UAE," said Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Rail Agency.

RTA launched the Dubai Metro stations naming rights initiative in 2009 and was the first of its kind in the world.

The construction theme for the Dubai Metro stations is the four elements of nature: fire, water, air and earth.

Mashreq Station is an elevated station and can accommodate up to 14,244 riders during rush hours, with a daily capacity of 256,392 people.

Jebel Ali Station, a transfer stop between the Red Line and Route 2020, can accommodate 320,000 passengers daily.

Gold Souq Station is an underground station in the old part of the city and can handle 475,488 people every day.