Saudi Arabia’s first five-star luxury train, Dream of the Desert, is not just an opulent travel experience—it is a testament to the artistry and vision of Aline Asmar d’Amman, the architect and designer behind its breathtaking interiors. As a woman at the helm of this pioneering project, Asmar d’Amman brings a unique perspective to the world of luxury rail travel, one that merges heritage with contemporary elegance.
With a career rooted in crafting exquisite spaces that bridge past and future, Asmar d’Amman is no stranger to large-scale hospitality projects. Having worked on legendary establishments such as Hotel de Crillon in Paris and the upcoming Orient-Express Hotel in Venice, she now takes on a new challenge—designing the interiors of a train for the first time.
“Dream of the Desert is not only about slow travel. It’s a great achievement in terms of sustainable exercise and ultra-luxury upcycling,” she explains. Asmar d’Amman’s design philosophy is deeply influenced by Saudi Arabia’s vast landscapes and its Bedouin traditions. The train’s aesthetic captures the mystical spirit of the desert, blending elements of AlUla, Madain Saleh, and Hail into a refined, modern setting.
“It’s a wonderful thing to immerse into a world of dynamic stillness and spiritual mystique that is the desert,” she reflects. “Saudi Arabia’s pristine natural beauty and the very distinctive feeling of immensity and silence, of wildness and wideness, only tamed by the Bedouin tradition of journeys with patience, appeals to another kind of travel today.”
Every detail of the train has been carefully curated to celebrate Saudi craftsmanship, from intricate wood carvings and woven textiles to handcrafted lighting and sculpted details that evoke a cinematic ambiance. The majlis-inspired lounges invite intimate conversations, while Jeddah’s iconic façades are reinterpreted in sculpted privacy screens. The restaurant interiors, with their refined interplay of textures and hues, pay homage to the artistry found in traditional gypsum motifs and desert flora.
Dream of the Desert is more than just a train—it is a statement about the future of luxury tourism in Saudi Arabia. Designed to align with Vision 2030, it presents an exclusive gateway to the Kingdom’s heritage and modern ambitions.
“Saudi Arabia is witnessing an extraordinary transformation,” Asmar d’Amman notes. “It’s fascinating to be part of this exciting chapter, weaving a vision that is deeply rooted in respecting heritage while infusing modernity. Craft is to me the most extraordinary bridge, allowing this smooth blend—a quintessential luxury transmitted from one hand gesture to another.”
Set to launch in Q3 2026, Dream of the Desert offers travellers a new kind of luxury—one that is deeply immersive, culturally rich, and reflective of the Kingdom’s evolving narrative. In Asmar d’Amman’s words, “The excellence of the Italian makers and our collaboration with Arsenale and Saudi Rails will have many stories to tell about the magical qualities of cross-fertilisation and the infinitely inspiring world of Saudi heritage and desert tales.”
Swipe through the gallery below to see a first look of the Dream of the Desert.
