Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch one of the region’s most ambitious luxury travel experiences with the upcoming debut of Dream of the Desert, the Kingdom’s first luxury train project developed in partnership with Italy’s Arsenale group.
The official launch is scheduled for December 2026 as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to expand luxury tourism and experiential travel offerings.
The train will operate along the Kingdom’s northern railway network, traveling from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat near the Jordanian border across nearly 1,000 kilometers of dramatic desert landscapes.
The luxury train will feature 33 premium suites with accommodation capacity for 66 overnight passengers, in addition to two fine-dining restaurants and an exclusive lounge carriage designed to deliver a high-end hospitality experience.
The project reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on luxury tourism development, coinciding with the opening of Arsenale’s permanent regional headquarters in Riyadh and the appointment of Raffaele Breccia as General Manager of the Dream of the Desert project and Global CEO of Arsenale.
The company is also targeting Saudi Arabia’s expanding corporate and executive events market by offering customized journeys, wellness programs, luxury brand experiences, and private executive travel packages.
Initial ticket prices are expected to start at around SAR 30,000, with plans to introduce additional seasonal routes and packages in the future.
The train is currently being manufactured in Italy, while a full-scale mock-up carriage showcasing future suites, lounges, and dining areas has already been installed in Riyadh.
The route will pass through King Salman Reserve, alongside curated off-train experiences including desert camps, cultural excursions, and wellness retreats.
Saudi Arabia represents Arsenale’s first international luxury rail project, with the company also developing similar train tourism initiatives in Egypt and the UAE as part of its broader Middle East expansion strategy.
