Egypt National Railway and Arsenale have signed an agreement to construct the first luxury Made in Italy train in Egypt. The agreement defines the basis for starting the design and construction of the train within Arsenale’s Italian facilities.
The train, previously named ‘Land of the Pharaohs’, has now been renamed ‘Guardian of the Nile‘. This is Arsenale’s fourth international luxury rail cruise project, following announcements in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. Let’s recap!
Saudi Arabia – Dream of the Desert
The ‘Dream of the Desert’ will begin operations in late 2025. The train will offer a “luxury train cruise” journey from the capital city of Riyadh to Qurayyat, which is close to the northern border with Jordan. The 1.300-kilometer route stretches across Saudi Arabia’s stunning desert landscapes and the city of Hail.
With a design inspired by “Saudi style and tradition”, the “fully-customized” trains, made up of 40 luxury cabins, will be able to accommodate 82 passengers for trips of one or two nights with bookings that will open at the end of this year.
- Status of the project –> Ongoing modernization of coaches
United Arab Emirates
This train, with a name yet to be decided, will be Arsenale’s second international luxury train project, following the announcement of the ‘Dream of the Desert’ project in Saudi Arabia. The train will consist of 15 luxury coaches. It will pass through Abu Dhabi and Dubai, extending to Fujairah, with a mountain view overlooking the sea, towards the Oman border, and through Mezeira’a and the Liwa Desert.
- Status of the project –> Memorandum of Understanding signed
Uzbekistan – Samarkand Express
The ‘Samarkand Express’ will be the third international luxury train project due to begin operations in 2026. It will feature 13-15 cars with 38 compartments, including deluxe and super deluxe options, accommodating about 76 travellers. Operating on the Tashkent-Khiva route, the journey will take two nights and three days, with stops at cultural sites such as Samarkand and Bukhara.
According to the investors, with 70 to 90 trips per year, the project will emphasize sustainable tourism and integrate eco-friendly practices.
- Status of the project –> Modernization of coaches will start soon
Egypt – Guardian of the Nile
The ‘Guardian of the Nile’, scheduled for its first departure in 2027, will consist of up to 15 carriages with 40 cabins divided into three different categories: deluxe, suite, and honour suite, with a total capacity of 80 local and international passengers. The bucket-list experience will take travellers from Cairo to Upper Egypt—through Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbal—with curated stops to visit the unique sites.
- Status of the project –> Modernization of coaches will start soon
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