A Dh13-million Mercedes G-Wagon coated with diamond dust and inspired by the Arabian horse is among the centrepieces of the Carlex diamond G-Wagon display at Adihex, the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, running this year at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
The car, called the Carlex One of One Stallion, is a single commission: Constantinos Zertalis, chief executive of Carlex’s Mena operation, says no second example will be produced.
‘We also say Stallion, one of one. We can’t make it twice. It’s just one in the world, never to be repeated,’ Zertalis said.
What makes the Stallion different
The roof is the most labour-intensive element. Carlex uses a specialised engraving technique to sculpt the surface rather than simply applying paint, then builds up seven layers of hand-brushing and seven layers of diamond dust. The company has patented both the diamond-dust incorporation method and the hand-brushing process.
The result is a surface that shifts in appearance as the angle of light changes, with a textured, near-hammered finish. The roof alone accounts for more than 3,000 hours of work; the full build takes around six months.
Gold-plated details and top-grade handcrafted leather carry the equine theme into the cabin. The Stallion follows an earlier Carlex one-off called the Falcon, which the company positioned as a comparable collector’s vehicle. Carlex Design lists several special-edition G-Wagon series on its site, including the Himalaya Diamond, a separate diamond-dust model priced at approximately $1.7 million, as reported by Robb Report.
The second car: Safari Grande Royal
Alongside the Stallion sits a Dh4.7-million safari-themed G-Wagon called the Safari Grande Royal, making its Middle East debut at the exhibition. Carlex plans to produce just 25 examples worldwide.
The base vehicles were acquired in 2023, before that generation of G-Wagon went out of production. Each has been kept at fewer than 500km on the clock before the modifications were carried out this year. The standard interior has been stripped out and replaced with wider seats trimmed in Italian leather, linen, and crocodile details, with ventilation built into the seat structure, a practical consideration for extended use in the heat.
The rear and roof carry equipment for desert trips, including a tent, umbrella, and chairs. The build takes around three months to complete.
Zertalis said Carlex customers do take the vehicles out into the desert, though he acknowledged the cars are not for everyone.
Carlex at Adihex
The exhibition itself is in its 22nd edition. According to ADNEC Group, which organises the event, it spans 92,000 square metres at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi across 15 sectors, described by the organiser as the largest edition in the show’s history. The Emirates Arabian Horse Society is Equestrian Sector Partner, with a pavilion that includes an Arabian horse drawing platform and a display by the Abu Dhabi Police Cavalry.
Elsewhere at the show, a camel auction on 1 September recorded Dh1.77 million in sales. The hunting and safari sector features exhibitors showcasing destinations including Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Carlex operates a factory in Poland with around 90 employees and opened a Dubai showroom in January this year. The company concentrated its work almost exclusively on G-Wagons roughly three years ago, having started by modifying a broader range of luxury vehicles. Zertalis said plans to expand back into other sports cars are scheduled for January next year, when new models are expected to be unveiled.
