Dream Of The Desert: Saudi Arabia Unveils First Luxury Train

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 29, 2025

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Italian hospitality firm Arsenale have revealed the final designs for the Dream of the Desert, the Kingdom’s first five-star luxury train. This marks a major step in redefining rail travel in the region, blending modern elegance with Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage. The announcement coincides with the visit of Italy’s Prime Minister to the Kingdom.

The project is part of an agreement between SAR and Arsenale, announced last year, and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of enhancing luxury tourism. The train’s interiors are inspired by the desert landscape and traditional Saudi architecture, featuring earthy tones, intricate patterns, and influences from iconic landmarks such as Madain Saleh and Hail.

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Exclusive Onboard Experience

Dream of the Desert consists of 14 carriages housing 34 luxury suites, designed to provide an intimate, high-end travel experience. The train is envisioned as a moving five-star destination, setting new standards for premium rail travel. Departing from Riyadh, it will traverse SAR’s Northern Railway network, offering breathtaking views of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and natural wonders.

A Tribute To Saudi Culture

The train’s interiors are designed to reflect Saudi Arabia’s cultural essence, with reception lounges inspired by traditional majlis settings, featuring hand-carved wooden elements and geometric patterns. Dining will blend heritage and sophistication, offering menus crafted in collaboration with top chefs. Passengers will also experience the Kingdom’s artistic heritage through curated art pieces and photography displayed along the train’s corridors.

Dream of the Desert is set to launch operations by Q3 2026, with booking details to be announced soon. This pioneering project is poised to redefine luxury travel in Saudi Arabia, offering an exclusive and culturally immersive journey unlike any other in the region.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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