Dubai Metro commuters should note that UAE Exchange Metro Station now officially operates as Life Pharmacy Station, following a 10-year naming rights deal signed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Life Pharmacy Group on May 5, 2025.
What Changed and Why
The RTA partnered with Life Pharmacy Group through Mada Media — the authority's authorised concessionaire for station naming rights — in the latest expansion of its Metro Naming Rights initiative. The programme, first launched in 2009 as a global first of its kind, allows private companies to brand specific metro stations in exchange for commercial investment.
RTA Rail Agency CEO Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Kalbat backed the initiative, stating that such partnerships improve public transportation services while generating economic benefits for the city. Life Pharmacy Group Chairman Abdul Rahuman Abdul Nazzar called the naming event a milestone, noting that the station "has served thousands of commuters for over a decade" and that the partnership reflects the company's commitment to Dubai communities.
Life Pharmacy Station: A Strategic Location
The station sits at the western terminus of the Dubai Metro Red Line, making it one of the network's busiest endpoints. Mohamad Al Hammadi, CEO of Mada Media, described it as a "strategic branding opportunity" due to its high visibility and daily passenger volumes.
Transit passengers have long depended on this station as a key connection point for areas including Discovery Gardens and the broader Jebel Ali corridor.
Rebranding Timeline
RTA began updating the station this month and expects to complete the full rebrand by August 2025. Changes will roll out across:
- Internal and external station signage - Digital platforms and metro maps - Audio announcement systems across the network
Not the First Renamed Station
This is not the first time a Dubai Metro station has been rebranded under a commercial deal. In March 2025, Al Khail Metro Station — located between Dubai Internet City and Sobha Realty stations on the Red Line — was renamed Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station. The growing list of renamed stations reflects how the city continues to link well-known commercial brands to its public infrastructure.
