CARLEX DUBAI: WHAT THE NEW G-CLASS BOUTIQUE MEANS FOR UAE COLLECTORS

Dubai already treats cars as part of its identity, not just a way to get from A to B. Now a new name is joining that scene in a serious way: Carlex Dubai, a boutique dedicated to ultra limited and one of one G-Class creations on Sheikh Zayed Road. For owners who see their Mercedes G-Class or luxury SUV as a long term collectible rather than a simple daily driver, this launch matters. It brings one of Europe’s most specialised customization houses into the heart of the UAE, with a showroom that feels more like a design studio than a traditional dealership.

Who is Carlex Design?

Carlex Design started as a small interior atelier focused on bespoke automotive cabins. Over time, it grew into a global specialist for high end car and aviation interiors, known for turning already expensive vehicles into one of one or very limited series objects. Interiors are redesigned from the ground up, with new leather, trim, stitching patterns and details that are closer to art pieces than simple upgrades. The company works under its own vehicle label as well as a dedicated upholstery and production arm. That side of the business supplies exclusive interiors to restomod builders, premium tuners and private aviation projects. Much of the work is still done by hand, using complex stitching, embossing and surface treatments that are hard to reproduce at scale. For collectors, this combination of industrial capability and old school craftsmanship is the main attraction. You are not just ordering “Option Pack A” or “Interior Pack B”. You are commissioning a composition that will exist in very small numbers, if at all, outside your own car.

Inside Carlex Dubai: A boutique for collectors

Location and showroom details

Carlex Dubai is presented as a boutique for collectors, not a standard showroom. It is located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, in a space designed around slow viewing and close inspection rather than fast sales. Instead of rows of cars parked bumper to bumper, the boutique shows a small number of highly curated builds, material samples and accessories. Lighting, layout and spacing are arranged so that each vehicle can be viewed from multiple angles without distraction. The experience is closer to a gallery visit than a visit to a high volume dealership. This approach suits the product. When a build takes months of design and manual work, it makes sense to give each car the room to breathe and be studied carefully.

Five showcase vehicles

At launch, Carlex Dubai focuses on five G-Class based models, each with its own concept and visual language: Himalaya Diamond, Lago Vintage, Sky Vintage, Havana Vintage and Rose Vintage. All are based on the Mercedes G-Class platform, but each looks and feels distinct.

Himalaya Diamond

Himalaya Diamond is described as a closed collection of just three unique examples. Each car carries its own combination of colours and details, so even within that tiny series no two are exactly alike. It is aimed at clients who want a G-Class that will not be repeated, even in other markets.

Lago Vintage

Lago Vintage explores a more feminine, elegant side of the G-Class. The interior leans on soft colour contrasts, intricate stitching and refined finishes that evoke classic luxury rather than an aggressive off road theme. It shows that the same platform can be turned into something calm and graceful rather than only rugged.

Sky Vintage

Sky Vintage, built on a G63 base, uses blue as its central tone. The idea is to reference sky and ocean, giving the car an open, airy feel rather than a bunker like ambience. It suits owners who use their G-Class for long distance cruising and want an interior that feels like a lounge rather than a cockpit.

Havana Vintage

Havana Vintage is finished in warm sepia and vanilla tones that recall vintage travel, old leather goods and classic photography. It aims to feel familiar and lived in, even when brand new. For clients who appreciate patina and heritage, this direction turns a modern G-Class into something that feels timeless rather than strictly modern.

Rose Vintage

Rose Vintage is the most expressive of the group, built around Nappa leather in a pink hue with precise stitching and delicate detailing. Where many G-Class builds lean into power and toughness, Rose Vintage explores a softer, couture style of luxury. It speaks to clients who are comfortable with bold personal statements and do not need their car to follow traditional masculine cues. Together, these five builds demonstrate how far a single platform can be pushed in different directions when design, materials and storytelling are treated as core elements.

Exotic materials and accessories

Beyond the cars themselves, Carlex Dubai showcases the materials behind the builds. The brand openly uses rare hides such as alligator, crocodile, ostrich and stingray, alongside high grade automotive leathers. Each piece is chosen for tone, grain and texture, then cut, stitched and finished by teams used to working on very small production runs. The boutique also presents an accessories collection that extends the same design language into daily life. Clients can commission bags, small leather goods, belts or made to measure footwear that match the leather and colour palette used in their car. This creates a subtle ecosystem around the vehicle, where the car is the core object and the accessories echo its materials and themes.

Why Dubai is a natural home for Carlex

Dubai has a long history of welcoming limited series and highly customised vehicles. The Mercedes G-Class in particular has become a common sight in both factory special edition form and heavily modified versions. It is a natural platform for designers and tuners who want a strong visual base to work with. Carlex has already worked with clients in the UAE on bespoke G-Class projects, including builds that reference regional culture and falconry. Those projects showed that there is a local audience interested in more than simple power upgrades or wrap jobs. The opening of Carlex Dubai is a way to formalise that relationship and give those clients a dedicated physical space. The city also offers the right practical environment. There is a high concentration of G-Class and super SUV owners, a strong culture of collecting, and an existing ecosystem of detailers, workshops and storage facilities that understand how to care for high value cars. For Carlex, that means potential buyers who are already used to commissioning and maintaining special vehicles.

What Carlex Dubai offers to G-Class and SUV owners

One of one and very limited conversions

Carlex focuses on cars that are rare by design, not just by price. The company is known for building one of one and very limited series G-Class conversions. Each vehicle receives its own blend of leather, colours, engravings and metalwork, with the intent that it will not be repeated. For Dubai clients, Carlex Dubai makes this process more tangible. Instead of viewing renders and photos from a distance, owners can sit in finished cars, feel the leather, see how colours respond to natural light and inspect the details up close. That reduces uncertainty and makes it easier to commit to long term projects.

Craftsmanship and collectible value

Carlex clearly positions its work as collectible automotive design. The aim is not just to impress on day one, but to hold interest years later when trends have moved on. That is where details matter. Stitching lines are placed to support the shape of the seat, not simply to show off. Perforation patterns improve ventilation while adding rhythm to surfaces. Engraved parts are executed so that they stand up to close inspection, not just to photographs taken at a distance. These decisions add time and cost, but they are part of what separates a collectible build from a quick cosmetic refresh. For collectors in the UAE, this aligns with how many already treat their cars, watches and art pieces. The expectation is that objects should reward attention and remain engaging over time, not just look good in a single picture.

Personal stories translated into materials

Most high end tuners can change leather colour, add carbon fibre or fit new wheels. Carlex aims to go further by building interiors and exteriors around specific stories or cultural references. That might mean an interior inspired by a particular region, a favourite era of design, a racing heritage or a personal symbol. Colours, stitching, embossing and even engraved motifs can all be used to support that story. For Dubai clients, this opens interesting possibilities, such as builds that reference family history, local architecture or regional craft. In this way, Carlex Dubai becomes not only a place to buy pre built cars, but a place to start conversations about new, highly individual projects.

How Carlex Dubai fits into the wider UAE luxury car ecosystem

A Carlex conversion does not replace the need for maintenance, diagnostics and repair. Beneath the leather and tailored details, a G-Class still needs regular servicing, brake work, alignment, tyre changes and occasional body repair. That is where the existing UAE ecosystem remains essential. Specialist European workshops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi already support large numbers of Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and other premium brands. These workshops handle everything from mechanical repairs and complex diagnostics to accident repair and paint work. For owners of Carlex vehicles, they form the backbone of day to day usability. In practical terms, Carlex Dubai sits at the design and commissioning end of the ownership experience. It provides the vision, materials and execution for the transformation. Once the car is on the road, trusted local workshops ensure that it continues to drive, stop and handle properly despite its bespoke nature. For businesses like German Experts, the arrival of Carlex Dubai likely means seeing more G-Class and super SUVs with very individual interiors and trim details. That reinforces the importance of documented processes, careful protection of cabin surfaces, and clear communication with owners about what can and cannot be disturbed during mechanical or body work.

Who is Carlex Dubai for?

• Carlex Dubai is not aimed at first time buyers or people who view cars as simple transport. Its natural audience includes:
• G-Class owners who want their vehicles to stand apart from factory special editions.
• Collectors who see cars as part of a long term portfolio and are comfortable with rare commissions.
• Design focused clients who care about materials, craft and narrative as much as about power or acceleration figures.
• Buyers already familiar with bespoke products, such as tailored suits, custom watches or commissioned art, who understand the timelines and costs involved.

For these groups, Carlex Dubai offers a physical, local touchpoint. It turns a process that might otherwise happen entirely online or in Europe into something that can be experienced in person, tested with real materials and adjusted in conversation.

How to experience Carlex Dubai

Carlex encourages potential clients to book private viewings rather than treating the boutique as a casual drop in destination. This respects the fact that many visitors prefer privacy and time to absorb the details without crowds. A typical visit might include:

• A guided tour of the five featured vehicles, with time to sit inside each one and inspect the details.
• A review of material samples, including standard and exotic leathers, metals and finishing options.
• A discussion about possible future projects, whether based on a client’s existing car or a vehicle sourced specifically for the build.

For enthusiasts and German Experts customers who are already active in the UAE car scene, the opening of Carlex Dubai adds a new dimension. It connects European bespoke design culture with Dubai’s existing passion for standout vehicles, using the G-Class as its core platform. As more of these one of one and limited builds arrive on local roads, the landscape for high end service, detailing and restoration will only become more interesting. Owners will have more options to express their taste, and workshops will have more reasons to refine their processes for handling truly unique cars.