diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.test.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.test.tsx
index c01808f411e..c13e65574be 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
 
 import { selectors } from '@grafana/e2e-selectors';
-import { SceneVariableSet, TextBoxVariable } from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { SceneVariableSet, ScopesVariable, TextBoxVariable } from '@grafana/scenes';
 
 import { DashboardControls, DashboardControlsState } from './DashboardControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from './DashboardScene';
@@ -97,6 +97,47 @@ describe('DashboardControls', () => {
 
       expect(renderer.queryByTestId(selectors.pages.Dashboard.Controls)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     });
+
+    it('should render ScopesVariable Component even when hidden', () => {
+      const scopeVariable = new ScopesVariable({
+        enable: true,
+      });
+
+      const dashboard = new DashboardScene({
+        uid: 'test-dashboard',
+        $variables: new SceneVariableSet({
+          variables: [scopeVariable],
+        }),
+        controls: new DashboardControls({
+          hideTimeControls: true,
+          hideVariableControls: true,
+          hideLinksControls: true,
+          hideDashboardControls: true,
+        }),
+      });
+
+      dashboard.activate();
+
+      const controls = dashboard.state.controls as DashboardControls;
+
+      // Mock the Component getter - use 'as any' to bypass TypeScript's getter checking
+      // Return a component function (not JSX directly) that renders our test element
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+      jest.spyOn(scopeVariable as any, 'Component', 'get').mockReturnValue(() => {
+        return <div>Mocked Component</div>;
+      });
+
+      const renderer = render(<controls.Component model={controls} />);
+
+      // Verify UNSAFE_renderAsHidden is set (required for renderHiddenVariables to include it)
+      expect(scopeVariable.UNSAFE_renderAsHidden).toBe(true);
+
+      // Check that the mocked component is rendered - this proves renderHiddenVariables
+      // accessed the Component getter and rendered it
+      expect(renderer.getByText('Mocked Component')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+      jest.restoreAllMocks();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('UrlSync', () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
index e6a8e7ab8a0..921874732eb 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ function DashboardControlsRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<DashboardContr
 
   if (!model.hasControls()) {
     // To still have spacing when no controls are rendered
-    return <Box padding={1} />;
+
+    return <Box padding={1}>{renderHiddenVariables(dashboard)}</Box>;
   }
 
   return (
@@ -200,6 +201,21 @@ function DataLayerControls({ dashboard }: { dashboard: DashboardScene }) {
   );
 }
 
+function renderHiddenVariables(dashboard: DashboardScene) {
+  const { variables } = sceneGraph.getVariables(dashboard).useState();
+  const renderAsHiddenVariables = variables.filter((v) => v.UNSAFE_renderAsHidden);
+  if (renderAsHiddenVariables && renderAsHiddenVariables.length > 0) {
+    return (
+      <>
+        {renderAsHiddenVariables.map((v) => (
+          <v.Component model={v} key={v.state.key} />
+        ))}
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 function getStyles(theme: GrafanaTheme2) {
   return {
     controls: css({