Everything we know about Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert train 

The luxury train will operate from 2025. 

Get ready to hop on board. Saudi Arabia is launching a luxury train service, Dream of the Desert. The first of its kind in the Middle East, the service is scheduled to open for bookings by the end of 2024, and begin operating by the end of 2025.

Saudi Arabia Railways has partnered with Italian Arsenale Group, which specialises in high-end train trips. The first trips will begin from the North Train Station in Riyadh, and run through Hail to Al Qurayyat. The Dream of the Desert service will include 40 cabins and aims to elevate the train travel. Plus, it will add to the tourist and entertainment offerings in the Kingdom. 

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, and Chairman of the Saudi Arabia Railways Engineer, Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, explained: “This is one of the initiatives the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics has taken to improve the quality of life and support leading national strategies.”

Dream of the Desert’s initial production stages have begun in Italy. Italian Arsenale Group is a high-end hospitality group, which develops and manages hotels in Italy. The company has also previously partnered with the Orient Express, Trenitalia-Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato and Fondazione FS Italiane. 

In 1947, the first railway line was constructed in Saudi Arabia. In 1981, Riyadh Dry Port was opened, and 2018 the Haramain high-speed railway was introduced. In a bid to create environmentally friendly modes of transport, the Kingdom has also been testing out hydrogen-powered trains. 

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GO: Visit www.sar.com.sa for more information.