Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert luxury train project opens Riyadh headquarters as the tourism initiative advances toward a 2026 debut
By Will Milner https://www.arabianbusiness.com/
Saudi Arabia’s first ultra-luxury train project, Dream of the Desert, has opened its headquarters in Riyadh as the tourism initiative moves closer to its planned 2026 launch.
The project, developed by Arsenale Group, also announced the appointment of Raffaele Breschi as General Manager of Dream of the Desert and CEO of Arsenale International.
The latest milestone marks the next phase of the project’s delivery in Saudi Arabia and reinforces its role within the Kingdom’s wider tourism and infrastructure transformation plans under Saudi Vision 2030.
According to Arsenale Group, the new Riyadh headquarters represents the company’s first international base outside Italy and reflects a long-term operational commitment within Saudi Arabia’s tourism and transport ecosystem.
The project team will work alongside Saudi government entities and national stakeholders including:
- Ministry of Culture (MOC)
- Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services
- Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)
- Transport General Authority (TGA)
- Ministry of Tourism
- Saudi Tourism Authority (STA)
- Tourism Development Fund (TDF)
Dream of the Desert in Saudi Arabia
The collaboration aims to support operational readiness and activate tourism and cultural destinations along the route ahead of the inaugural journeys scheduled for the end of 2026.
Dream of the Desert is designed to redefine luxury rail travel while showcasing Saudi Arabia’s landscapes, heritage and hospitality through immersive journeys lasting between one and three days.
The luxury train experience will span more than 1,300km across Saudi Arabia’s existing railway network and connect multiple destinations through curated itineraries focused on culture, storytelling and destination discovery.
The project forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to position the Kingdom as a leading destination for high-value and culturally rooted tourism experiences.
As General Manager of Dream of the Desert, Breschi will oversee organisational development, regulatory coordination, operational performance, talent development and product delivery within Saudi Arabia. More
