Dream of the Desert, luxury train journey Saudi Arabia

Spend the night in a luxurious traveling suite with views of beautiful and diverse landscapes, comparable to the Orient Express, the Belmond Royal Scotsman, and the Rovos Rail in southern Africa. Saudi Arabia has unveiled a new project to convince travelers that visiting this new travel destination is more than worthwhile. With the "Dream of the Desert" project, Saudi Arabia aims to launch its own luxury train journey and further position itself as a sustainable travel destination. Dream of the Desert will welcome its first passengers in early 2027, making it the first five-star train journey in the Middle East.

Grand ambitions

News of the Dream of the Desert is just one of many developments as Saudi Arabia picks up speed on its ambition to become a leading travel destination, with plans to attract 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. The past year has been dominated by news of hotel and resort developments throughout the kingdom, from AlUla, the ancient oasis town near the sandstone monuments of Hegra; to the Red Sea coast and its islands; Sindalah Island, part of the NEOM megaproject; and the historic settlement of Diriyah.

The latest project, a luxury train ride across the desert, on the other hand, seems modest. Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has signed a deal worth about fifty million euros with the Italian company Arsenale Group. Yet this fits perfectly within the country's ambitious goals. In 2018, Saudi Arabia already launched a high-speed train between Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah, allowing travelers and residents to get to the holy sites. Moreover, in 2022, the Saudi Investment Minister indicated that the country plans to build some eight thousand kilometers of railroads.

Luxury train travel made in Italy

The Italian company is already collaborating with Orient Express on La Dolce Vita, a new luxury train tour with six routes throughout Italy that will begin operating this year. Arsenale has also signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates' national railroad company, Etihad Railway, to develop a luxury train to explore the Arabian Peninsula. These initiatives come at a time when luxury train travel is growing rapidly in popularity.

A first look at the interiors, designed by Lebanese architecte Aline Asmar d'Amman, reveals lush ceilings decorated with gold, tiles at the front of the bars, rich velvet sofas and subtle references to landscapes and Saudi traditions. Certain rooms are inspired by majlis arrangements, decorated with finely crafted wood and hues derived from the desert sands. Special works of art are being commissioned to depict Saudi heritage and culture and will be hung in the train's corridors. Menus will be created by both local and international chefs.

The Dream of the Desert

In contrast to other high-speed trains, the Dream of the Desert places speed at the bottom of the priority list. For the Dream of the Desert, the focus is on the journey itself rather than the destination. What can you expect from such a journey? According to the CEO of the Italian company responsible for building the train, the vehicle will exude the grandeur of the world-famous Orient Express, albeit entirely in Saudi style and traditions.

The trains will have 14 carriages with 33 luxury suites that can accommodate 66 passengers. Construction of these cabins is already well underway, and tickets are expected to be available for booking from 2026. The first journeys are planned for Q1 2027.

The nearly 1,300-kilometer journey begins in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and travels northwest toward the border with Jordan. The route will pass through long stretches of scenic deserts and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights include the town of Hail, Al-Qassim province and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve in Al Jouf. The trip ends in Al-Qurayat, located 30 kilometers from the Jordanian border. Passengers can book a one- or two-night trip.