Name changes from July 1, 2025
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has awarded a 10-year naming right for Jebel Ali Metro Station on the Red Line in Dubai City to National Paints Factories, a UAE-based paints and coatings manufacturer.
The metro station, which serves the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) industrial area, is being renamed ‘National Paints Metro Station. For National Paints, the presence at a metro station in one of Dubai’s most dynamic industrial zones creates a visible link to regional economic growth and the construction sector.
The deal was endorsed by Dubai’s RTA and finalised between National Paints and Hypermedia, with Mada Media acting as the authorised concessionaire under Dubai RTA’s naming rights framework.
The deal is expected to increase revenue and enhance brand visibility for all parties. It offers Dubai’s RTA a consistent income stream, while National Paints gains strategic exposure at a high-traffic transit site. It also sets a precedent for future agreements as authorities continue to seek innovative ways to fund transport infrastructure.
From July to October 2025, Dubai’s RTA will update all station signage, digital interfaces, mapping platforms, and onboard audio announcements to reflect the new name.
Abdul Mohsen Kalbat, CEO of Dubai RTA’s Rail Agency, said the partnership with National Paints highlights the success of Dubai RTA’s naming rights programme in attracting private investment across the UAE. The renaming contributes to Dubai’s broader efforts to enhance urban transit options alongside its planned expansion of the Dubai Metro network, including the Blue Line. The Blue Line is expected to integrate further key residential, industrial, and commercial districts in the emirate.
Metro stations with corporate naming rights are common in Dubai. The move aligns with regional trends observed in other Arabian Gulf cities, where government transport authorities are increasingly seeking commercial partners to support infrastructure expansion and financial sustainability.
National Paints, founded in Amman in 1969 and headquartered in Sharjah since 1977, is among the top coatings manufacturers in the Middle East and ranks 29th globally. The company operates 15 factories and five resin plants in seven countries, with a facility in Sharjah emirate in the UAE capable of producing over 500,000 metric tonnes annually.
Hero image: The erstwhile named Jebel Ali Metro Station gets a National Paints name change from July to October 2025. Credit: Dubai’s RTA
