Guests can choose from three itineraries aboard the 72-passenger luxury train.
Saudi Arabia’s first ultra-luxury train, Dream of the Desert, is preparing to welcome its first passengers in the third quarter of 2027, promising an experience its General Manager describes as nothing short of “theatrical”.
“We’re not selling a train trip,” said Raffaele Breschi, General Manager of Dream of the Desert and CEO of Arsenale International. “We’re in the business of a theatrical show. It’s going to be an end-to-end curated experience.”
Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Raffaele said every aspect of the journey had been carefully planned to create a seamless and immersive experience for guests.
“Everything will be coherent, everything will be designed, and everything will feel like it has to be there,” he said. “That’s why we say it’s an experience; it’s not a trip.”
The ultra-luxury train will feature 12 carriages and 34 suites, accommodating up to 72 passengers at a time. Guests will be able to choose from three different itineraries, each offering a distinct journey and experience.
Prices for Dream of the Desert will start at approximately Dh30,000 per cabin per night. Travellers hoping to secure one of the limited suite cabins on the inaugural journeys can join the priority list by paying a fully refundable deposit of around Dh2,500.
Route through unexplored terrain
The train will travel more than 1,000 kilometres north of Riyadh, heading inland towards the Jordanian border and passing through some of Saudi Arabia’s most remote and lesser-explored landscapes.
The route will connect four main stops — Al-Qassim, Ha’il, Al-Jouf and Qurayyat — using rail infrastructure operated by Saudi Railways, a partner in the project.
“These are places that are largely unexplored, even to Saudis themselves,” Raffaele said. He added that within 30 to 40 minutes of the stations, travellers can discover a range of attractions, including UNESCO sites and potential future UNESCO sites, extinct volcanoes, oases and farms.
Among the destinations featured in the itineraries are Marid Castle in Al-Jouf and the Aja Mountains in Ha’il, which Raffaele compared with Al-Ula while noting that the area has “a very different energy”.
Journeys aboard Dream of the Desert will range from two to five nights, with the longest five-night itinerary also including stops in Al-Ula.
Broadway meets the desert
Beyond showcasing Saudi Arabia’s landscapes and heritage, Dream of the Desert will also feature immersive onboard entertainment designed to bring the country’s history and stories to life.
“We say the experience will be like Broadway meets the desert,” Raffaele said. He explained that theatrical performances will explore stories of conquerors who travelled through the region during the Middle Ages, as well as local myths, romances and other episodes from Saudi history, turning the rail journey into a storytelling experience.
Raffaele remained tight-lipped about some of the experiences planned for passengers, saying further details would be revealed closer to the train’s launch.
“I don’t want to spoil too much at the moment,” he said, suggesting that more information about the itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced in the coming months.
According to Raffaele, interest in Dream of the Desert has already been strong, particularly among Saudi travellers keen to explore lesser-known parts of their own country.
“Saudis are very excited because we give them an opportunity to visit their own country in a different way — places they have not visited themselves,” he said.
International rail enthusiasts who have previously experienced luxury train journeys have also shown significant interest, with pre-booking requests already being received. “The broader audience is very curious,” Raffaele added.
He said the project also aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which includes expanding the Kingdom’s tourism sector and attracting more international visitors.
“We’re going to be one of the many attractions, the many stops, the many experiences that people will be able to enjoy in the Kingdom, and we hope to contribute to that,” he said.
