Saudi Arabia's first ultra-luxury train, Dream of the Desert, is due to start carrying passengers in the third quarter of 2027, its general manager told Khaleej Times.

Raffaele Breschi, who is also chief executive of Arsenale International, gave the interview at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. He described the project as a curated, end-to-end experience rather than a simple rail journey. "We're not selling a train trip," he said.

According to Khaleej Times, the train will have 12 carriages and 34 suites and can carry 72 passengers at a time. Guests will be able to choose from three itineraries.

Prices start at about 30,000 UAE dirhams per cabin per night, the report said. Travellers who want a place on the first journeys can join a priority list with a fully refundable deposit of about 2,500 dirhams.

The train will run more than 1,000 kilometres north of Riyadh, close to the Jordanian border, through remote parts of northern Saudi Arabia. The route links four main stops: Al-Qassim, Ha'il, Al-Jouf and Qurayyat. Breschi said many sites near the stations, within 30 to 40 minutes' travel, are little known even to Saudis. He named UNESCO-listed sites, extinct volcanoes, oases and farms among them.

The itinerary includes Marid Castle in Al-Jouf and the Aja Mountains in Ha'il, which Breschi compared to Al-Ula, a well-known heritage destination in north-west Saudi Arabia, though with what he called a different energy. Journeys will last between two and five nights, and the five-night option includes stops in Al-Ula.

Breschi said onboard entertainment will be theatrical, drawing on stories of medieval conquerors, myths, and lovers from Saudi history. He declined to give more details for now and said more will be announced closer to launch.

He said the response so far has been strongly positive. Saudi customers are keen to see parts of their country they have not visited, he said, and international rail enthusiasts have already sent pre-booking requests.

Breschi linked the project to Saudi Vision 2030, the government's plan to make the kingdom a leading tourism destination, and said the train hopes to add to the country's range of attractions.

Source: Khaleej Times