Where Heritage Moves: Aline Asmar d’Amman tells us about Dream of the Desert

“Dream of the Desert was born from a shared desire to elevate the art of travel into an experience of cultural connection and timeless beauty.” — Aline Asmar d’Amman

Unveiled during the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Dream of the Desert marks Saudi Arabia’s first ultra-luxury train, a collaboration between Arsenale S.p.A., Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), and the Ministry of Culture, redefining what it means to move through a landscape; not simply as a traveller, but as a witness to heritage.

At once poetic and technical, the project embodies what its designer, Aline Asmar d’Amman, calls “a moving bridge between worlds, a poetic dialogue between Italian engineering excellence and Saudi artistic soul.” Crafted in Italy and reimagined with Saudi artistry, Dream of the Desert merges savoir-faire, tradition, and modern design into a single living structure. “The train’s carriages, crafted in Italy and reimagined with Saudi artistry, embody a philosophy of upcycling, giving new life and meaning to existing structures,” she explains.

Luxury in Motion

For Aline, designing something that moves demanded a different kind of architecture, one where memory and motion coexist. “This is the very first time that I work on the design of a train interior,” she shares. “The philosophy is however the same when it comes to intervening on large-scale hospitality projects steeped in patrimonial buildings.” Whether it’s Hôtel de Crillon in Paris or Orient Express Venice, her process always begins with “context and stories of cultural relevance.”

She describes Dream of the Desert as “not only a reflection on luxury hospitality in motion, but also a remarkable opportunity to pay homage to a culture so rich, layered, and generous in its transmission.”

A Passage Through Emotion

From Riyadh to the Kingdom’s farthest horizons, Dream of the Desert will offer one- to two-night itineraries across 1,300 kilometres, with curated stops that celebrate Saudi Arabia’s natural beauty, cultural depth, and architectural heritage.

Inside, Aline envisioned each carriage as “a passage not only through landscapes, but through layers of emotion.” “From the welcoming majlis-inspired lounge to the contemplative suites and refined restaurant, each space is a different chapter of the same poetic journey deeply rooted in the kingdom’s rich heritage,” she says.

Every detail feels considered — a choreography of color, texture, and light. “The desert’s palette of earthy tones, sandy browns and oasis green are softly lit by the cinematic glow of Murano blown glass,” notes Arsenale. The train’s 33 private suites, Majlis lounge, and fine dining cars are designed to “capture the essence of tradition while setting the stage for timeless elegance with cultural relevance.”

Artistry as the Ultimate Luxury

For Aline, Dream of the Desert is a statement about legacy as much as luxury. “I wanted passengers to feel a sense of belonging, of suspended time, where comfort, beauty, and culture come together in a sensorial crescendo,” she shares. “Saudi Arabia’s embrace of the future is a generous invitation for the world to discover its rich cultural tapestry and traditions.”

“My architectural work is rooted in the transmission of heritage, a dialogue between past and future, elevated by stories of cultural connection,” she adds. “To me, artistry and craftsmanship are the ultimate luxury — a testimony of emotional intelligence, a token of cultural relevance honoring millennial gestures while capturing the spirit of our times.”

The Desert, the Spirit, and the Story

The Lebanese architect’s connection to the project is deeply personal. “I was born in Lebanon, where adversity teaches you to appreciate life and thrive for peace and beauty,” she reflects. “From my Lebanese upbringings, I keep the treasured memory of the Arabian poets’ melodic words… Ibn Arabi’s philosophy is summarized as such: ‘A desert may be dry, but it is rich in spirit.’”

It is through this lens that she approached the project — as both designer and dreamer. “I aimed to capture the spirit of the desert, that emptiness that allows for beauty to unfold with prosperity,” she says. “My quest for cultural relevance is coupled with a freedom to invent new realms where modernity is inspired by tradition, without any nostalgic restraint.”

Aline Asmar d’Amman — The Architect Who Bridges Worlds

Born in Lebanon and Parisian at heart, Aline Asmar d’Amman is the founder of Culture in Architecture, a design studio based between Paris and Beirut, dedicated to “bridging cultures while balancing the past and present.” Known for her ability to weave “dialogues between the raw and the precious, heritage and modernity, poetry and materiality,” her international portfolio includes the reopening of Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the renovation of Le Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower, and the upcoming Orient-Express Hotel at Palazzo Dona Giovannelli in Venice.

Her collaborations include a creative partnership with Karl Lagerfeld on Les Grands Appartements at Hôtel de Crillon and the sculptural collection Architectures, showcased at Carpenters Workshop Gallery. In 2022, she designed the Lebanese Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale, further solidifying her reputation as an architect who builds stories through her spaces.

Dream of the Desert now joins that legacy, standing as a testament to her belief that design is both an act of cultural preservation and reinvention — a living bridge between memory and modernity.

A Journey, Not a Destination

For Arsenale, Dream of the Desert is more than a train; it is a symbol of Vision 2030’s creative ambition — a promise that Saudi Arabia’s story is one of movement, heritage, and transformation.
“This project embodies the shared pursuit of beauty, innovation, and hospitality that unites our two cultures,” said Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale. “It marks the beginning of a new global platform redefining ultra-luxury travel – one that celebrates heritage, creativity, and a deep respect for local identity.”

As Aline Asmar d’Amman concludes: “Dream of the Desert embodies this vision — rooted in deep respect for heritage while seamlessly embracing modernity.”

And perhaps that’s what makes this train more than a marvel of design — it’s a reminder that in the vastness of the desert, movement itself becomes poetry.

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