Saudi Arabia is about to get its own answer to the Orient Express. Dream of the Desert, the kingdom's first ultra-luxury train, is being built by Italian hospitality group Arsenale together with Saudi Arabia Railways, with the first departure now slated for September 2027 — a year later than originally planned.

The train is essentially a boutique hotel on rails: 34 suites across 12 carriages, carrying a maximum of 72 guests. Lebanese architect Aline Asmar d'Amman and her studio Culture in Architecture have handled the interiors, drawing on Saudi crafts and traditions — think wood marquetry, heavy textiles and lounge spaces modelled on the traditional majlis. Guests get full board across the day, from breakfast and afternoon tea to aperitivo and dinner, plus onboard storytelling and performances built around local history and myth.

The route runs more than 1,000km through northern Saudi Arabia, from Riyadh towards the Jordanian border, passing through Al-Qassim, Ha'il, Al-Jouf and Qurayyat. Planned excursions include Marid Castle in Al-Jouf and the Aja Mountains near Ha'il. There's also an AlUla extension in the works with the Royal Commission for AlUla — guests would leave the train at Ha'il and continue by road or air rather than riding in directly.

Now the catch: this is firmly at the top end of the market. The official site currently lists suites from SAR 30,000 per night, with final pricing due later in 2026. Refundable priority deposits are open now, private-jet transfers to places like AlUla cost extra, and the experience is aimed at adults — the recommended minimum age is 14.

What makes the concept interesting beyond the obvious luxury is the pace. Northern Saudi Arabia — Ha'il, Al-Jouf, the areas beyond Al-Qassim — sees far fewer visitors than AlUla, Jeddah or Riyadh, and few easy ways to link them. A sleeper train turns those long desert distances into part of the trip rather than an obstacle: wake up somewhere new, step off to explore a castle or a mountain range, get back on for dinner. For travellers who have already ticked off the kingdom's headline sights, it's a genuinely different way into the country's quieter regions.

Worth noting that some details are still being finalised, so routes, pricing and excursion lists could shift before launch. Anyone tempted should watch for the confirmed rates in 2026 and treat current figures as indicative.

Story via Getaway South Africa