Rolls-Royce has just unveiled something quite special for the Middle East. The Phantom Arabesque is a one-of-one commission that marks a genuine first for the British marque: a fully laser-engraved bonnet.
Created by Rolls-Royce’s Private Office Dubai for a client in the region, this bespoke Phantom Extended draws heavily from mashrabiya, the intricate latticework that’s defined Arabian architecture for centuries.
It’s a car that bridges traditional Middle Eastern design with some genuinely innovative craftsmanship.
If you’ve spent any time in the region, you’ll recognise mashrabiya screens. Those geometric wooden lattices appear across historic homes and palaces throughout the Middle East, offering privacy while letting light and air filter through.
For Phantom Arabesque, that pattern becomes the centrepiece. It appears on the bonnet, runs through the interior Gallery, and shows up in subtle details throughout the car.
The design team at Private Office Dubai wanted to capture the essence of mashrabiya, privacy, light, and airflow, without losing what makes a Rolls-Royce unmistakable.
This is the first time Rolls-Royce has laser-engraved an entire bonnet, and the technique took five years to develop.
The process draws from sgraffito, an Italian method where you remove upper layers to reveal contrasting colours beneath. Here’s how it works: the bonnet gets painted in a darker shade, sealed under clear coats, then topped with a lighter layer. The mashrabiya pattern is engraved to a precise depth of 145 to 190 microns, exposing the darker tone below.
Each engraved section is hand-finished to create a smooth, sculptural surface. Because the pattern sits within the paint rather than on top of it, it’s both durable and refined. Variations in laser intensity create subtle light shifts across the bonnet, giving it a three-dimensional quality.
It’s a patented process that opens up new territory for future commissions.
The Phantom Arabesque comes in a two-tone finish: Diamond Black for the body, Silver for the upper surfaces. A single hand-painted Silver coachline features the mashrabiya motif.
There’s an illuminated Pantheon grille in a Dark Chrome surround, an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy, and 22-inch part-polished alloy wheels. The overall effect is strong but understated.
Step inside and the mashrabiya theme continues, though with a lighter touch.
The Gallery across the front fascia showcases marquetry work in Blackwood and Black Bolivar wood, echoing the bonnet’s geometric design. An offset clock in a dark finish complements the pattern.
The interior is trimmed in Selby Grey and Black leather with Black seat piping and carpets. Mashrabiya motifs appear embroidered on the front and rear headrests. Starlight Doors come with Selby Grey piping and Black contrast stitching. Even the illuminated treadplates feature a cross-section of the bonnet engraving.
Phantom Arabesque has been delivered to its owner somewhere in the Middle East, where it now sits in a private collection.
More than just a bespoke commission, it reflects the region’s growing influence on Rolls-Royce design. By merging traditional Arabian architectural language with advanced surface technology, the car manages to honour heritage while pushing innovation forward.
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