Dream of the Desert Luxury Train Set to Operate in Saudi Arabia by 2025
Saudi Arabia is set to launch the "Dream of the Desert" luxury train service by 2025. SAR has teamed up with Italy's Arsenale Group, experts in high-end train travel, to introduce the service with a rolling stock featuring 40 lavish cabins catering to a total of 80 guests. The signature journey from Riyadh via Hail to Al-Qurayat near the Jordanian border will inaugurate in the summer of 2025, embarking its first fare-paying travelers in November of the same year.
The collaboration was formalized by SAR CEO Dr. Bashar Al-Malik and Arsenale Group CEO Paolo Barletta in the presence of Transport and Logistics Minister Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser. This partnership, underscoring a prior understanding from March 2023, signifies the maiden luxury "rail cruising" experience in the Middle East and North Africa, as stated by Al-Jasser. He emphasized the initiative's alignment with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, aiming to elevate the transport sector and enhance quality of life within the Kingdom.
The project has received strong support from the country's leadership and represents a milestone in SAR's strategy to deliver exceptional travel options and contribute to tourism and entertainment within Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Arsenale Group, having invested over SR200 million in the initiative, is known for its high-end hospitality and operates six tourist trains in Italy. The Dream of the Desert train, promising an experience akin to the legendary Orient Express, is currently in its early production phase in Italy.
The project has received strong support from the country's leadership and represents a milestone in SAR's strategy to deliver exceptional travel options and contribute to tourism and entertainment within Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Arsenale Group, having invested over SR200 million in the initiative, is known for its high-end hospitality and operates six tourist trains in Italy. The Dream of the Desert train, promising an experience akin to the legendary Orient Express, is currently in its early production phase in Italy.
