Dream of the Desert: Saudi Arabia’s First Ultra-Luxury Train Redefines Travel

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Saudi Arabia has unveiled 'Dream of the Desert', its first ultra-luxury train — a milestone collaboration between Arsenale Group, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), the Ministry of Culture, and the Saudi Tourism Authority. 

The project blends Italian design mastery with Saudi cultural storytelling, redefining the future of luxury rail travel in the Middle East.

Established in 2006 by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), SAR is a central enabler of Saudi Vision 2030. Operating a 5,000 km network linking major cities, industrial hubs, and ports, SAR plays a vital role in advancing the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global logistics and tourism powerhouse. With Dream of the Desert, SAR takes that vision into the realm of cultural and experiential travel.

The 14-car train — featuring 33 suites, two fine-dining restaurant cars, and a Majlis-inspired lounge — offers a 1,300 km journey through the Kingdom’s deserts, mountains, and historic oases.

At the creative helm is Lebanese architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, founder of Culture in Architecture, who has crafted what she calls “a cinematic journey where past and present converge.”

Her design unfolds like a poem across the desert — tactile, warm, and deeply rooted in Saudi heritage. d’Amman’s global portfolio includes Hôtel de Crillon, Rosewood Paris, Karl Lagerfeld’s Les Grands Appartements, Eiffel Tower’s Le Jules Verne, Orient Express Venezia Hotel, and Chanel’s Le Petit Salon du 19M — each guided by her philosophy that architecture is “a dialogue between memory and modern life.”

Her design evokes “slow travel” as an immersive experience, where crafted textures, desert-inspired hues, and cinematic lighting meet Saudi storytelling.

“Every space tells a story,” says d’Amman. “The interiors embrace the idea of reinvention, creating something that speaks to both history and sustainability — the essence of intentional luxury.”

For the creative industry, Dream of the Desert represents a masterclass in design diplomacy, merging cultural identity, sustainability, and high craft.

With Dream of the Desert, Saudi Arabia isn’t just reshaping luxury travel; it’s positioning design itself as a powerful ambassador of culture — proof that the region’s next frontier of creativity might just run on rails. Aline Asmar d’Amman’s poetic design and SAR’s visionary partnership put Saudi Arabia at the forefront of creative, sustainable, and experience-led tourism in the region.