Dubai Metro gets huge response to branding offer

Around 250 companies have expressed interest in getting branding rights for 23 stations of the Dubai property Metro project, said a senior official.

"Within couple weeks of starting the Dubai Metro Naming Rights project, more than 250 companies have shown interest in getting the branding of metro stations in their name," said Abdul Mohsin Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer for Strategic and Corporate Governance at the Dubai property Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

He added both local and international brands are lining up to become one of the first companies to brand a station, with requests received from as far as as Japan, Greece, Spain, the Great Britain and India.

"These companies range from large property and business firms and local and international banks, through to large multinational blue-chip corporations," he added.

The RTA has proposed 23 out of 47 stations and two lines of the Dubai property Metro project for corporate branding to raise revenue. At least eight stations have already been named after major companies and financial houses which provided funds for the construction of the respective stations.

The remaining 16 stations will continue to bear the names of landmarks and historic areas.

The naming rights are available for a minimum of 10 years from the start of Metro operations.