Saudi Arabia’s bold vision for tourism (which includes a target of 150 million visitors by the end of the decade) is no secret, but now, the country is taking its first long, slow ride into the world of luxury sleeper trains. Slated to launch in late 2026, the Dream of the Desert is set to become not just Saudi Arabia’s but the Middle East’s first luxury sleeper train. It’ll travel across the desert, connecting the neon-edged skyscrapers of Riyadh to the minarets of Al Qurayyat about 20 miles from the Jordanian border.
Operated by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and designed in collaboration with Italy’s Arsenale Group, the team behind the Orient Express La Dolce Vita that links various destinations across Italy, the Dream of the Desert promises a desert-crossing luxury train experience with an Arabian twist.
What we know about the Dream of the Desert Luxury Train
With 34 suites spread across 14 carriages, the train is set to compete with other recent luxury train launches like the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express and the UK’s Britannic Explorer. And as with most modern sleepers, it promises to be something of a roving hotel on the rails, with heightened luxury presented in the colors of the desert (and a bit of gold), mixed with myriad Saudi cultural references.
The interiors are plush with big panoramic windows, and the sleeper suites are finished with a chic art deco feel with clean lines, stylish lighting, and all the modern conveniences expected of a sleeper train. The public spaces and corridors are set to be accented with specially commissioned art referencing local cultural heritage. Of course, a luxury sleeper train lives or dies by its dining options, and the Dream of the Desert promises a restaurant car inspired by traditional majlis (Arabic sitting rooms), with hand-carved wooden finishings and fine cuisine shaped by the local terroir.
Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert luxury sleeper train is currently set to debut toward the end of 2026, but in the meantime, take a look at our favourite train trips in Europe and the USA’s top overnight sleeper trains.
