Saudi Arabia has spent the last few years turning heads in luxury travel, but nothing has quite prepared the world for the Dream of the Desert luxury train. Set to roll out of Riyadh by late 2026, around the third quarter, this is the Kingdom’s first ultra luxury train, and it is not just a mode of transport. It is a moving showcase of Saudi craft, Italian hospitality know how, and a design vision that took years to get right.
Pre-reservations opened earlier this year, with pricing starting from SAR 30,000 per cabin per night, so this is no longer just a concept on a mood board. If you have been following the slow, deliberate rise of Saudi tourism under Vision 2030, this train is the moment that story becomes something you can actually book.
What is the Dream of the Desert luxury train
At its core, the Dream of the Desert luxury train is a joint venture between Saudi Arabia Railways, the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Tourism Authority and Italy’s Arsenale Group, the hospitality company behind properties like the Orient Express hotels. Together they have built a 14 carriage train carrying 33 suites in total, 31 standard suite cabins plus two presidential suites, with room for up to 66 guests at a time.
The current guest itineraries run from Riyadh through Al Jouf, Jubbah and on to AlUla, though the wider Northern Railway network the train operates on extends further, toward Al Qurayyat near the Jordanian border, covering roughly 1,300 kilometres of existing rail lines and passing UNESCO World Heritage sites along the way.
Five itineraries have now been announced, most running between October and May, with two seasonal exceptions. The Northern Sands is a three day, two night round trip from Riyadh into Al Jouf, taking in Marid Castle and Jubbah Rocks. A Taste of AlUla continues further north through Al Jouf and Jubbah to end the journey in AlUla, with experiences curated alongside AlUla Destination.
Whispers of Jubbah is a shorter two day trip built around the prehistoric rock carvings at Jubbah, with a stop in Diriyah. Ramadan Nights runs during the holy month with suhoor and iftar served onboard, plus a stargazing stop in Qassim. And Summer Mirage is a two day, onboard focused journey departing from and returning to Riyadh during the warmer months.
So why does everyone keep talking about it? Because in a region where hotels have competed hard for the ultra luxury crown, a train changes the terms of the conversation entirely. You are not just staying somewhere beautiful. You are moving through the desert slowly, watching dunes and ancient rock formations pass by your window, which is a different kind of luxury altogether. And now that pre-reservations are open, with cabins starting from SAR 30,000 a night, that experience has moved from aspiration to something you can actually plan for.
Meet the designer behind Dream of the Desert luxury train
We cannot talk about this train without talking about the woman who shaped its soul. The interiors were conceived by Aline Asmar d’Amman, the Lebanese architect and designer who founded the Paris and Beirut based studio Culture in Architecture.
If her name sounds familiar, it should. She led the artistic direction of the renovation of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, working closely with Karl Lagerfeld on Les Grands Appartements, complete with crystal chandeliers, marble baths and 18th century double doors that were originally made for the Royal Opera House of Bordeaux. She also designed the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a hotel and another Arsenale project, which gives you a sense of why she was the obvious choice for this one.
For the Dream of the Desert luxury train, Asmar d’Amman leaned into texture over ornament. Think carved wood panels, reinterpreted traditional weavings and bespoke marquetry, all rendered through Italian craftsmanship but rooted in Saudi architectural memory. She pulled her colour palette straight from the landscape outside the window, sandy browns, oasis greens and the warm neutrals of sandstone, so the interiors feel like an extension of the desert rather than a contrast to it. Architectural motifs borrowed from AlUla, Madain Saleh and Hail are woven into the detailing, which means every suite carries a small piece of the region it passes through.
Why the design of Dream of the Desert luxury train feels different
A lot of luxury design leans on gold and marble to signal status. This train does something different. Murano blown glass fixtures cast a warm, lantern like glow through the cabins, a deliberate nod to the ritual of light in desert culture. At the centre of the train sits the Majlis lounge, a reinterpretation of traditional Saudi hospitality, with low seating, fine wood carvings and golden accents designed for gathering rather than showing off. From there, guests can watch the desert unfold in what one designer called cinematic frames, and honestly, that description does not feel like marketing once you see the renderings.
Dining gets the same thoughtful treatment. There are two restaurant cars on board, one dedicated to authentic Saudi cuisine and the other offering an international menu shaped through an Italian lens, both curated by well known chefs aiming for a Michelin level experience. So whether you want a taste of home grown Saudi flavours or something more continental, the train does not force you to pick a side.
Who is actually behind this project
Arsenale Group, founded in 2020 by Paolo Barletta and Annabel Holding, is the Italian hospitality name doing the heavy lifting on execution. The company already works across hotel design and management with brands like Soho House and Orient Express, which explains the polish. Barletta has described the Dream of the Desert luxury train as a moving masterpiece born from the dialogue between Italian craftsmanship and Saudi vision, and once you look at the details, that is not just a soundbite.
On the Saudi side, SAR CEO Bashar bin Khalid AlMalik has framed the project as proof that public and private collaboration can produce genuinely groundbreaking travel experiences, and it fits neatly into the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 goal of welcoming 150 million visitors by 2030. That target alone explains why Saudi Arabia is investing this heavily in a single train. Arsenale has since backed that ambition with real infrastructure, opening its first international headquarters in Riyadh and appointing Raffaele Breschi as General Manager of Dream of the Desert and CEO of Arsenale International, so the project now has dedicated leadership steering it toward launch rather than running it as a side initiative.
What this means for luxury travel in the region
Here is the bigger picture. For years, if you wanted an ultra luxury train experience, you looked at Europe or Asia. The Dream of the Desert luxury train changes that map. It gives the Middle East its own five star answer, one that does not copy the Orient Express formula but instead builds something specific to Saudi land, culture and craft. And because it is backed by government ministries as well as a seasoned hospitality operator, it has the infrastructure to actually deliver on the promise, not just the renderings.
For anyone tracking where luxury travel is headed next, this train is worth watching closely. It signals that Saudi Arabia is not just building hotels and resorts, it is building entire journeys, and doing it with genuine design intention rather than just budget.
Read next: If Dream of the Desert has captured your imagination, our feature on Belmond explores the same idea through a different lens. While Dream of the Desert celebrates Saudi Arabia’s vast landscapes, Belmond’s British Pullman transforms the journey into immersive theatre through interiors conceived by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Different worlds, one shared ambition: turning a train into the destination.
(Image credit: dreamofthedesert/Instagram)
FAQ
When does the Dream of the Desert luxury train launch?
It is expected to begin operating in late 2026, around the third quarter, running on Saudi Arabia Railways’ Northern Railway network out of Riyadh.
Can you book the Dream of the Desert luxury train yet?
Pre-reservations opened earlier in 2026 across five announced itineraries, giving early guests priority access to bookings ahead of the public launch.
How much does the Dream of the Desert luxury train cost?
Pricing starts from SAR 30,000, roughly 6,000 pounds or 8,000 dollars, per cabin per night, and varies depending on the itinerary and suite category chosen.
Who designed the Dream of the Desert luxury train?
Lebanese architect and designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, founder of Culture in Architecture, designed the interiors in collaboration with Italy’s Arsenale Group.
How many suites does the train have?
The train has 14 carriages with 33 suites in total, 31 standard suite cabins plus two presidential suites, accommodating up to 66 guests.
What route does the Dream of the Desert luxury train follow?
Current itineraries run from Riyadh through Al Jouf, Jubbah and on to AlUla, while the broader rail network it operates on extends toward Al Qurayyat near the Jordanian border, covering about 1,300 kilometres and passing several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
