Saudi Arabia’s New Luxury Train Unveils Its First Wagon

Luxury rail travel in the Middle East is beginning to take form across the deserts of Saudi Arabia, with the unveiling of the first wagon of Dream of the Desert at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. Designed by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, the project introduces interiors shaped by Saudi cultural references and Italian craftsmanship, brought together through a restrained and carefully composed spatial language.

The wagon is conceived as a contemplative environment, guided by proportion, materiality, and light. Its palette draws directly from the desert, combining muted sand, clay, and oasis green with carved timber panels and reinterpreted textile patterns that introduce tradition without ornament. Murano glass lighting adds a soft, cinematic glow, revealing textures and surfaces with subtlety. From joinery to seating placement, every detail reflects a balance between comfort and spatial clarity.

This first wagon offers a glimpse into the full train’s layout, which will include private suites, a Majlis lounge, and two restaurant cars. The suites are designed to feel intimate yet open, with materials and lighting that shift naturally throughout the day through expansive windows. The Majlis lounge reimagines traditional gathering spaces in a contemporary setting, while the restaurant cars are planned to serve local and international cuisine curated by expert chefs, translating dining into a spatial experience.

Once completed, Dream of the Desert will travel 1,300 kilometres across the Kingdom, following routes selected for their cultural and landscape significance. The unveiling of the first wagon sets the tone for a journey where craft, heritage, and terrain converge, shaping interiors that respond to both place and time.