Saudi Arabia’s first luxury train service to start in 2025

An emerging alliance between Saudi Arabia Railways and Italy’s Arsenale Group is set to launch a luxury train experience dubbed the Saudi Arabia ‘Dream of the Desert’.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Bashar bin Khalid Al-Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways, and Paolo Barletta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Italy’s Arsenale Group, to develop a project that will contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia’s national tourism industry.

This luxury train offers a train travel experience of around 1300 kilometers connecting Riyadh to Al Qurayyat. The luxury train will play a key role in Saudi Arabia’s mega plan to attract 150 million passengers by the end of the next decade.

Saudi Arabia has earmarked more than $800 billion for travel and tourism to boost its position in the international market. Featuring 40 elegant cabins designed with Saudi style and heritage in mind, the train can carry up to 82 passengers on one or two night journeys.

Booking for the same will open by the end of 2024. Saudi Arabia’s first railway was the Hejaz Railway, built by the Ottoman Empire from Damascus to Medina. Saudi Arabia’s railway system is operated by the state-owned railway company Saudi Arabia Railways.

The company currently operates two regular passenger lines from Riyadh and a high-speed rail line between Al Madinah and Makkah. A 6.79 billion riyal (US$1.8 billion) design and construction contract for Phase I Block 1 was awarded to Al Rajhi Alliance in March 2009.