"Mada Media" For the first time, a ceremony was held to grant the right to name Dubai Metro stations "Al Fardan Exchange"

DUBAI, March 2, 2017 (WAM) – Mada Media Company (PJSC), in its capacity as the authorized party from the Roads and Transport Authority under the concession contract concluded between the two parties, organized the ceremony for granting naming rights to the “Al Fardan Exchange” station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, previously “Al Khail”, during an event held inside the station. It is the first event organized to celebrate the granting of naming rights to one of the Dubai Metro stations, which will be followed by a series of events during the coming period.

The event was attended by Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Kalbat, Executive Director of the Rail Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Mansour Al-Sabahi, CEO of Mada Media, Hassan Fardan Al-Fardan, CEO of Al-Fardan Exchange, and Habib Wehbe, Chairman and CEO of W Group Holding, which owns Hypermedia, which is responsible for attracting investors to obtain the naming rights to stations on the Red and Green lines of the Dubai Metro.

This step confirms Mada Media’s commitment to promoting innovative investment opportunities in the outdoor advertising sector, and providing qualitative investment opportunities that allow brands to interact directly and daily with a wide segment of the public, thus enhancing customers’ confidence in them, consolidating their presence in society, supporting the growth of their business, and facilitating metro users’ access to the services and products provided to them easily and smoothly.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Kalbat, Executive Director of the Rail Corporation at the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, said: We are always pleased to conclude long-term investment partnerships with the private sector in the field of naming Dubai Metro stations, and the agreement to name Al Khail Station to become Al Fardan Metro Station represents one of the most important of these partnerships, given the prestigious position that Al Fardan Group of Companies represents in the financial field, not only in the Emirate of Dubai, but also at the level of the UAE.

Kalbat pointed out that since its launch in 2009, the Dubai Metro Stations Naming Rights Initiative has achieved continuous successes, through a project that was the first of its kind in the world, stressing the authority’s continued keenness to consolidate strategic partnerships with the private sector as it plays a vital role in stimulating economic, commercial and service growth in all fields, exchanging and transferring knowledge and expertise, and creating job opportunities in multiple fields, which paves the way for the private sector to support the government’s direction in this field.

Mansour Al-Sabahi, CEO of Mada Media, expressed his pride in this strategic partnership with the private sector, specifically with one of the most important leading national brands, saying: We are pleased that Alfardan Exchange has joined the distinguished group of investors who have obtained the naming rights to the Dubai Metro Red Line stations. This distinguished project is an exceptional opportunity to promote their brands in an innovative and unique way that links them with the global status of the upscale and unique Emirate of Dubai. It also places the Emirate of Dubai at the forefront of cities that support the private sector and give it opportunity after opportunity. For growth and prosperity, as the strategic location of metro stations contributes to enhancing the ability of brands to reach diverse segments of the audience whose numbers are estimated at hundreds of thousands daily, and in return facilitates this audience’s access to a large number of services provided by these ancient brands.

The CEO of Alfardan Exchange, Hassan Fardan Al Fardan, also expressed his happiness with this great achievement, which is the result of fruitful investment partnership relations, saying: It is our pleasure and pride to be part of the Dubai Metro network, through which millions of passengers pass daily as they move between their work and their homes. There is no doubt that naming one of the stations of the vital Sheikh Zayed Road, which connects the Emirates and its residents around the country, for us represents an important station in the company’s journey.

He added: This step reflects our firm commitment to serving our customers by providing convenient and reliable financial solutions within locations that touch their daily lives and facilitate their movements. While we are proud to keep pace with the progress embodied by Dubai’s vision for smart cities, we continue our commitment to improving access to our services, supporting the development of the city and improving customer experiences by opening new branches in a number of metro stations.

In turn, Habib Wehbe, Chairman and CEO of W Group Holding, said: This type of partnership represents a true privilege, as the Dubai Metro station naming rights initiative goes beyond being a traditional advertising opportunity, to reflect a broader vision of the Dubai government in consolidating the strategic partnership between the public and private sectors. These are partnerships that give brands a real opportunity to be part of the daily fabric of society, and to reserve an influential position in one of the most connected and vibrant global cities.

Under the metro station naming rights agreements, the old name of the station will be changed to the investor’s trade name on the signboards inside the station and on the roads leading to it, in addition to the signboards for entrances, exits, escalators, signs for smart and electronic systems, and the authority’s applications for the public transportation system. The audio announcement on board the metro cars before and upon arrival at the station is also changed, and via digital billboards and others. These are the privileges that contributed to Alfardan Exchange’s brand reaching about 19 million people, while the number of views of the brand during the year. Past to about 62 million views.

Mada Media has the exclusive privilege to supervise agreements granting naming rights to public transport stations in the Emirate of Dubai, the most recent of which is the Blue Line metro station, which includes 14 stations currently being implemented and scheduled to open on 9/9/2029, including two future stations, and the iconic Emaar Properties station, which is the longest in the world with its unique design, and which will extend over an area of 10,800 square meters, and its capacity will reach 160 thousand passengers per day and is located in the Dubai Creek Marina area.

Mada Media calls on investors and partners to seize this exceptional opportunity that enhances their ability to promote their brands, and opens up horizons of excellence and success for them by enhancing the ability to have smooth and reliable access to their services to millions of consumers in the Emirate of Dubai, regardless of their segments and diversity.

It is noteworthy that Mada Media is a private joint stock company established in 2024, under Law No. (20) of 2024, to manage, organize and develop the outdoor advertising sector in Dubai, and create new advertising spaces and innovative investment opportunities with the aim of enhancing the growth of the sector.

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