Saudi Arabia is getting ready to launch its first ultra-luxury prepare, Dream of the Desert, designed to showcase the nation’s landscapes and heritage by gradual journey experiences on rail. Jenny Southan studies
Saudi Arabia has revealed plans for its first ultra-luxury sleeper prepare, Dream of the Desert, a brand new rail expertise coming in late 2026 that has been developed by Italy-based Arsenale Group, in partnership with Saudi Arabia Railways and nationwide tourism our bodies.
Dream of the Desert is designed to hold simply 66 passengers throughout a 1,300km community by Saudi Arabia. The prepare consists of 14 carriages, together with 33 suite cabins, two restaurant automobiles and a majlis-inspired lounge. Costs begin from SAR 30,000 (about £6,000) per cabin per night time.
The mission marks a big step within the Kingdom’s efforts to broaden high-end tourism past lodges and resorts, and into experiential journey. It has been conceived as a “gradual journey” expertise, with journeys that place as a lot emphasis on time spent onboard as on guided excursions off the prepare.
The interiors of Dream of the Desert have been designed by architect and inside designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, founding father of Tradition in Structure. The carriages are Italian-built however have been refitted moderately than changed, a call that displays a concentrate on reuse and long-term worth.
Supplies and design references draw on Saudi traditions, together with carved wooden, woven textiles and color palettes impressed by desert landscapes and oasis greenery.
Asmar d’Amman says: “Sluggish journey is about surrendering to the second. My purpose is to induce this sense by translating it right into a tactile and visible language: velvety textiles that invite contact, heat woods that recall conventional craft, sculptural lighting that creates intimacy.
“The desert’s palette of earthy tones, and sandy browns are balanced with a zest of lavender, oasis inexperienced and burnt oranges, infusing every area with a way of tradition and serenity. From the reception lounge to the restaurant, the interiors change into a steady meditation on presence and place in movement.”
Eating performs a central position within the expertise. The 2 restaurant automobiles will serve rotating menus created by native and worldwide cooks. One focuses on Saudi flavours and regional produce, whereas the opposite blends Italian methods with international influences. Meals are included as a part of the journey, alongside curated on-board programming and guided off-train experiences.
5 itineraries have been introduced, every operating between October and Might, besides for 2 seasonal routes. These vary from a two-day return journey from Riyadh to Jubbah, centred on prehistoric rock artwork websites, to longer routes that proceed north to Al Jouf and AlUla.
One itinerary, “Ramadan Nights”, operates throughout February and March and contains in a single day journey with suhoor and iftar served onboard, alongside a stargazing cease in Qassim. One other, “Summer time Mirage”, is designed for hotter months and takes place fully onboard, departing from and returning to Riyadh.
Every itinerary combines rail journey with cultural and pure experiences equivalent to visits to Diriyah, desert camps, guided heritage excursions and hosted meals in outside settings. Lodging off the prepare is included on chosen routes, notably these ending in AlUla.
The mission has been developed in collaboration with Saudi Arabia Railways, the Ministry of Tradition, the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Tourism Growth Fund. Saudi Arabia Railways operates a 5,000km community throughout the nation and performs a central position within the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 technique to enhance connectivity and diversify the economic system by tourism and logistics.
Paolo Barletta, chief government of Arsenale Group, says Dream of the Desert builds on the corporate’s expertise in luxurious rail, following the launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Categorical in Italy. He describes the Saudi mission as the corporate’s first abroad luxurious prepare and a basis for additional growth within the Center East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Pre-reservations for Dream of the Desert are actually open, with pricing various by itinerary and together with lodging, meals and experiences. A refundable pre-booking price of SAR 2,500 per suite (about £500) supplies precedence entry as soon as full reservations open, in addition to an invite to the inaugural launch occasion.
The introduction of Dream of the Desert displays a broader shift in Saudi Arabia’s tourism technique in the direction of immersive, place-led experiences that encourage longer stays and deeper engagement with the nation’s tradition and geography. For the luxurious journey sector, it alerts rising demand for rail-based journeys that mix consolation, storytelling and low-paced exploration.
