Karama Metro station is now named ADCB

The Karama Metro station on the Dubai Metro Red Line has been renamed after Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB).

The Karama Metro Station. — KT photo

An agreement to this effect was signed in the presence of Abdullah Yousef, CEO of Roads and Transport Authority’s Rail Agency, and Ala’a Eraiqat, CEO of ADCB, on Monday. This step has rendered the bank a key part of the development process that the RTA seeks to materialise through the Metro project. The renaming has contributed significantly to shifting the traditional concept of sponsorship and brands to a more advanced level of integration. Abdullah Yousef said the RTA is keen to avail the opportunity for various public and private companies in Dubai to participate in the naming rights project.

“This will raise the level of awareness about national and international brands in a way that enhances its standing in the emirate, and contributes to improving the Metro services in a unique and creative manner,” said Yousef.

“The Dubai Metro Station naming project is the first of its kind in the Middle East and is being hailed as the best practice worldwide. It is the world’s first revenue model for public transport infrastructure which has now been emulated by other cosmopolitan cities such as Chicago, Boston, Houston, London, Delhi-Gurgaon, Philadelphia, Montreal and Rio de Janeiro, among others.

“The Metro stations naming rights project is appealing to owners of giant brands in Dubai, and contributes to attracting investment opportunities for their trade.”

Ala’a Eraiqat said: “The government’s clear vision has succeeded in providing a mass transit system characterised by high performance and operational efficiency just after five years from the initial operation of the Dubai Metro, which has proved to be one of the most successful mass transport systems in the emirate.” Eraiqat was elated to rename Al Karama station as ADCB for its close proximity to the largest branch of the bank in Dubai.

Other stations named after private or public firms on both the Red and Green Lines are Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Etisalat, Gulf General Investment Company (GGICO), Sharaf DG, First Gulf Bank, Nakheel, The Palm Deira, Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Noor Islamic Bank, Burjuman Centre, and Danube Company.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com