Onpassive

Onpassive sits along the Al Quoz stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the more unexpected corners of the city to arrive at by train. Behind the highway towers lies a district of warehouses that Dubai has quietly turned into its creative quarter, where converted industrial units now hold galleries, design studios and independent coffee roasters. Step off here and you are closer to spray-painted murals and pop-up exhibitions than to the polished malls further down the line.

For riders it is a practical everyday stop rather than a headline destination, feeding the residents, office workers and gallery-goers of the Al Quoz side of the road. The name comes from a technology firm that took the naming rights, but the neighbourhood it serves is far older and grittier, and that mix of raw workshops and cultural energy is exactly what gives Onpassive its character.

Station Overview

Onpassive Metro Station opened in 2011 on the Dubai Metro Red Line and sits in Zone 2 of the NOL fare system. Like the rest of the network it is served by fully automated, driverless trains, and it stands raised above Sheikh Zayed Road as an elevated station.

Lines and Connectivity

Onpassive is a Red Line station. Heading north-east the line runs towards Downtown, Deira and the Centrepoint terminus, while south-west it continues towards the Marina, Ibn Battuta and the Route 2020 branch. There is no Green Line here, so for Deira and Bur Dubai you change to the Green Line at BurJuman or Union.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is elevated, with a ground-level concourse linked to the platform above by lifts, escalators and stairs. Toilets, ATMs, NOL top-up machines and a staffed service desk are all on hand. Gold Class carriages ride at the front of each train and a women and children carriage sits in the middle, both marked along the platform edge.

Accessibility

Onpassive has full step-free access, with lifts joining street level, concourse and platform. Tactile guidance paths, audio announcements and platform screen doors are all fitted, so wheelchair users and travellers with pushchairs can move through the station without stairs.

Travel Tips

• This is the handiest stop for Alserkal Avenue, though you will want a short taxi hop from the exit to reach the galleries.
• Come on a weekend afternoon if you want the Al Quoz art spaces at their liveliest.
• A NOL card costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit and works on metro, bus, tram and marine transport.
• For the Green Line towards Deira, change at BurJuman or Union.
• Trains run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00.

Nearby Attractions

Alserkal Avenue - a short ride into Al Quoz, a warehouse complex reworked into Dubai's leading cluster of contemporary art galleries and creative spaces.

Al Quoz industrial quarter - around the station, a working district of design studios, furniture showrooms and speciality cafes tucked among the warehouses.

Times Square Center - close by on the Al Quoz side, a smaller mall known for its indoor attractions and family dining.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Trains at Onpassive run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00. Weekday peaks fall around 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30 as the office crowd moves through. The middle of the day is calm, and weekend afternoons suit a relaxed wander around the Al Quoz galleries.