November 27, 2025 | TRAVEL
ALINE ASMAR D’AMMAN on DREAM of the DESERT
words Onur Baştürk
photos Stephan Julliard
Unveiled during this year’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Dream of the Desert marks a milestone for Saudi Arabia Railways and Arsenale S.p.A.: the kingdom’s first ultra-luxury train, designed by Aline Asmar d’Amman, founder of Culture in Architecture.
Drawing on the vastness of the desert and the quiet geometry of traditional Saudi architecture, Aline has shaped interiors defined by sculpted wood, woven textures, earthy tones and Murano glass lighting reminiscent of glowing desert lanterns. With 33 suites, two restaurant cars and a Majlis lounge, the train offers a contemporary reading of Saudi hospitality — refined, rooted and culturally attuned.
Set to launch at the end of 2026, Dream of the Desert reframes travel as a slow, cinematic passage through landscape and memory. How Aline approached this moving architecture — and the inspirations behind it — unfolds in our exclusive interview.
MY VISION WAS A POETIC, CINEMATIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE DESERT
This project takes you into a new realm — designing for a moving space, a luxury train. How did it feel to translate your architectural language into motion? Would you call it a new chapter in your creative journey?
This is the very first time I have designed the interiors of a train. Yet the philosophy remains the same as in my large-scale hospitality projects rooted in patrimonial buildings — the Orient-Express Venice, the 15th-century Palazzo Dona Giovannelli, or Hôtel de Crillon, Rosewood Paris, an 18th-century landmark on Place de la Concorde.
The creative journey always begins with context and stories of cultural relevance, the founding stones of my practice — seeking poetic materiality while addressing construction constraints. I like to think that challenges often birth the most inspiring projects. Dream of the Desert is not only a reflection on luxury hospitality in motion; it is also a remarkable opportunity to pay homage to a culture so rich, layered and generous in its transmission.
The project brings together desert landscapes, local architecture and cultural heritage. How did you weave your personal sensibility into these powerful influences?
My vision for Dream of the Desert is that of a cinematic reverie — an immersive voyage unfolding like a poem across the vast and mystical landscape.
I was inspired by the desert and by traditional Saudi architecture, as though the interiors were infused with the moving scenes, colours and textures of the desert’s mystique. I was fascinated by the proportions and motifs of iconic Saudi landmarks — from AlUla, Madain Saleh and Hail to the northern and southern regions, from Najdi to Hijazi details — and poured their beauty into the train’s design, offering passengers a journey that is both visually and culturally enriching. These traditions appear subtly in refined craftsmanship: earthy tones, luxurious textiles and sculpted wooden panels express heritage through an elegant, timeless lens. Pursuing my motto of “design with soul and with purpose,” the idea is to embrace heritage while instilling comfort, allure and attitude, elevating the experience to utter sophistication.
BESPOKE MURANO GLASS LIGHTS SHIMMER LIKE DESERT DEW
The interiors combine natural tones, intricate wood carvings, woven textures and glass lighting. Each choice seems to carry a sense of narrative. Can you share a few examples of the stories embedded in the design?
Each space tells its own story through layers of detail and cultural relevance. I loved imagining the reception lounges as contemporary interpretations of the traditional majlis, where conversation and connection lie at the heart of Saudi hospitality. These spaces are adorned with carved wooden panels, woven textiles and trimmings inspired by regional and tribal geometries, enriching the sense of place. Bespoke Murano glass luminaires shimmer like drops of desert dew.
There is poetry in the smallest gestures. In the restaurant, a pink thread stitched on camel-tinted leather nods to the equestrian saddler’s realm and to the Roses of Taif — a treasured colour in the Kingdom. In the lounge and guestrooms, fabric lampshades carry abaya-like trims, a tribute to the quiet sophistication of traditional garments.
Throughout, tinted etched mirrors soften and reflect the light, echoing the desert’s hues in motion. The bar takes cues from the ancient architecture of Hegra, reinterpreting its forms through contemporary patterns. These details forge true connections with the natural surroundings, giving the interiors their soul and depth.
FOR ME, ARTISTRY AND CRAFTMANSHIP ARE THE ULTIMATE LUXURY
The project balances ultra-luxury with deep cultural resonance. How do you define the right balance between opulence and authenticity?
My work is rooted in the transmission of heritage — a dialogue between past and future elevated by stories of cultural connection. For me, artistry and craftsmanship are the ultimate luxury: a testament to emotional intelligence and cultural relevance, honouring millennia-old gestures while capturing the spirit of our time.
I devoted countless hours to studying the details of Saudi architecture and artisanal traditions — from the monolithic remains of Madain Saleh and AlUla, to intricate regional textiles, Jeddah’s carved wooden facades, and nomadic oil lamps that cast a cinematic glow in the desert. These elements were translated through a refined contemporary lens by today’s artisans.
It is about reimagined memory, not replication — shaping a visual language that feels rooted yet light, contemporary yet soulful. Culture and craft remain powerful forces to build a future in which luxury resonates with humanistic values. The future I imagine celebrates thoughtful modernity, where innovation honours memory and cultural dialogue becomes the new definition of luxury.
What emotions do you hope guests will feel when they step inside? As they move from the corridor to their suite or into the restaurant car, what emotional rhythm do you want the space to evoke?
I envisioned Dream of the Desert 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 forms a chapter of the same poetic journey, deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s heritage. I want passengers to feel a sense of belonging — a suspended moment in time where comfort, beauty and culture come together in a sensorial crescendo. Saudi Arabia’s embrace of the future is a generous invitation to discover its rich cultural tapestry and traditions.
Dream of the Desert embodies this vision: rooted in deep respect for heritage while gracefully embracing modernity. To me, artistry and craftsmanship remain the ultimate luxury — a reflection of cultural intelligence and a bridge between memory and our contemporary world.
