Inside Saudi Arabia's First Luxury Train ‘Dream of the Desert'
In this SceneTraveller exclusive, we sit down with the Italian CEO of Arsenale, Paolo Barletta, as he unveils the story behind the luxury train's anticipated arrival in the Kingdom.
A joint venture between Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Arsenale, the luxury hospitality group behind Orient Express La Dolce Vita and the Orient Express Hotels, Saudi Arabia's eagerly-awaited 'Dream of the Desert' will be the region's very first five-star luxury train experience.
In this SceneTraveller exclusive, we sit down with the Italian CEO of Arsenale, Paolo Barletta, as he unveils the story behind the luxury train's anticipated arrival in the Kingdom.
Set to launch in the fall of 2026, 'Dream of the Desert' will take travellers on an enchanting 1,300-kilometer excursion, starting in the capital city of Riyadh and culminating near the Jordanian border in Al Qurayyat.
Guests aboard this 'cruise on rails' will be invited to immerse themselves in the pristine desertscape of the Kingdom through curated cultural programmes and yet-to-be-revealed travel itineraries that will include stopovers in destinations like Al Qassim, Hail, and Al Jouf.
Across the train's 13 carriages and 34 suites, local and global artists will showcase contemporary artworks that weave in elements from iconic destinations such as AlUla, as well as all the corners of the Kingdom that have yet to get their time in the spotlight.
From the traditional majlis in the reception area to the historical photographs in the train's corridors—'Dream of the Desert' is set to become a true snapshot of Saudi, with a generous sprinkle of the sumptuousness Italian hospitality is famed for.
As for Arsenale's next regional venture, the group is launching a dream railway experience by the name of 'Land of the Pharaohs', which will take travellers on a breathtakingly cultural voyage from Cairo all the way to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simb
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
21 hours ago
- CairoScene
‘Memento' to Screen in Saudi Cinemas For the First Time
Marking its 25th anniversary, 'Memento' will also return to theatres across the MENA region. 'Memento', the cult psychological thriller that launched Christopher Nolan's career, is set to hit Saudi cinemas for the first time starting June 19th. Distributed by Front Row Filmed Entertainment, the re-release brings the iconic non-linear film to the big screen across the Middle East and North Africa in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The film's theatrical debut in Saudi Arabia follows a string of successful Nolan re-releases in the region, including 'Interstellar' and 'Inception'. In addition to Saudi Arabia, 'Memento' will screen in theatres across the UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.
CairoScene
a day ago
- CairoScene
French Architect Jean-Pierre Heim Showcases AlUla in New York Exhibit
Travelling-inspired sketches by architect Jean-Pierre Heim bring AlUla's heritage into focus at New York's Didier Aaron Gallery, in collaboration with the Saudi Consulate General. New York's Didier Aaron Gallery is currently hosting 'Travelling is an Art: The Drawings of Jean-Pierre Heim', an exhibition that traces the architectural and cultural reflections of French architect and artist Jean-Pierre Heim. Known for his work on high-profile restaurants, resorts, and hotels across the globe, Heim brings together a selection of travel-inspired sketches that blend architectural precision with artistic expression. The exhibition includes visual impressions from Heim's journeys through Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Greece, China, Tibet, Central Asia, and South Asia. Using ink, watercolour, and collage, Heim captures ancient ruins, monuments, and desert landscapes with an emphasis on architectural structure and cultural symbolism. One of the key highlights of the exhibition is Heim's depiction of AlUla, the ancient northwestern Saudi city known for its archaeological and cultural significance. Heim's rendering of AlUla aligns with Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to promote its cultural heritage on an international scale. Through detailed sketches and layered textures, Heim reinterprets the region's built history in ways that merge traditional aesthetics with modern creative interpretation. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in New York, reinforcing cross-cultural dialogue through visual art. Heim's work positions architecture not just as design, but as a narrative tool that bridges time, place, and perspective. 'Travelling is an Art: The Drawings of Jean-Pierre Heim' is open to the public at Didier Aaron Gallery in New York until June 20th, with visiting hours from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
CairoScene
a day ago
- CairoScene
This Tunisian Architect Makes Travel Videos for, Well, Architects
A 26-year-old architecture student from Tunisia, Ahmed Bedoui turned street photography into a career—one frame at a time. We've all fallen down that rabbit hole: the infinite scroll of candy-coloured Santorini balconies, Bali infinity pools, and cherry blossom tunnels that bleed into one homogenised daydream. Travel content has become a global hall of mirrors: same angles, same trending audios, same stolen sunsets. Some creators combat the sameness with increasingly outrageous stunts like handstanding on volcanoes or kissing cobras. Others disappear into AI-generated landscapes where even the dirt looks filtered. But a rare few understand that true discovery happens not when you chase novelty, but when you learn to see the ordinary through extraordinary eyes. Ahmed Bedoui, a 26-year-old Tunisian architect-turned-travel-influencer, treats Instagram not as a highlight reel, but as a forensic lab for place and memory. In his world, the cracks in cobalt paint on a weathered Medina door reveal generations of salt-laden winds; its iron studs map forgotten blacksmith techniques. While others frame Morocco's riads for their "instagrammable arches," Bedoui asks: How does this curvature trap cool air? Why does this shadow fall at 32 degrees in December? Whose calloused hands mixed this plaster? For Bedoui, content creation was never about fame or algorithms—it began with a love for beauty, culture, and the built environment. Born and raised in Tunisia, he's completing his architectural studies in Sidi Bou Said, the white-and-blue coastal village that shaped his visual sensibilities—and where, accidentally, he began telling a different kind of story… His Instagram handle, @ is both identity and manifesto. 'Bedouin' (from the Arabic badija, meaning desert dweller) historically signified nomadic Arab tribes traversing borders from Syria to the Sahara. Though Tunisia's first president, Habib Bourguiba, urbanised many Bedouins in the 1950s, their spirit persists: hospitality as sacred covenant, movement as birthright, community as survival. Bedoui reclaims this legacy. And so, what began as a 2020 hobby—photographing the streets of Tunisia—quickly gained traction, with viral videos shot in Istanbul and Egypt introducing him to the power of short-form content on TikTok and Instagram. 'We're often told that Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt are 'unsafe,'' Ahmed shares with SceneTraveller. 'That's why I started showing the doors left unlocked for strangers.' But it was Morocco that really launched his journey. 'The first time I went, I tagged the hotels in my stories. A month later, one invited me back for a free stay,' he says, still surprised at the memory. 'I didn't even know what a collab was.' That turning point opened his eyes to the world of professional content creation. Encouraged by friends and some early collaborators, he began charging for his work and building a thoughtful, sustainable brand. So, early on, he created his own 50/50 manifesto: half his work would showcase collaborators; half would spotlight the culture and the unseen—crumbling courtyard homes with sunken zellij fountains, hidden hammams behind unmarked doors, and the echo of footsteps in domes built to whisper. 'People always ask what camera I use—and they're shocked when I say my iPhone,' he says. 'But it's not the device—it's the eye. As an architect, you learn to notice light, shadow, and the meaning behind spaces.' He sees content creation not as a detour from architecture, but an extension of it, letting local design guide his lens. Visiting cities like Cairo and studying the work of architects such as Hassan Fathy helped him see how built environments reflect local culture and climate. This sensibility bleeds into every aspect of his work. His Instagram grid is carefully curated with complementary tones and textures, often highlighting intricate local craftsmanship. 'I only share what I genuinely believe in. I see it as a responsibility.' Still, despite the taxing nature of meticulously curating content, his audience often only sees the polished final product, not the effort behind it: long hours of planning, multiple visits to a location for better light, or even setbacks like having his phone stolen mid-shoot. 'People often don't realise the work that goes into a single 30-second video.' Eventually, Ahmed dreams of building something tangible—a guesthouse by the sea, maybe in Essaouira, infused with his aesthetic. But for now, graduation is just weeks away. And though his studies might hold his attention for a bit longer, someday soon the road will open up—and he plans to walk it with intention, and the eye of a true (and certified) architect of travel.
