The Dubai Ruler’s personal Rolex is not something you’re likely to come across at any ordinary horology exhibition or watch launch. But you will see it at the Christie’s Important Watches auction, being held at Dubai’s Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel on March 23.

A specially commissioned one-off Rolex GMT-Master bearing the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will go up for auction next week.

The UAE Ruler’s name is inscribed in red Arabic cursive onto the customised black dial, with golden accents, of the timepiece.

Down as Lot 120 at the action, the watch is expected to fetch up to $160,000.

Rolex Geneva serviced the stainless steel dual-time automatic wristwatch last year. The watch comes in a Rolex box featuring an inscription of the UAE flag as well as an artist’s watercolour depiction of the watch and a digital drawing on aluminium, signed by the artist.

“Personalised Rolex watches are highly prized gifts, often created to celebrate milestone occasions, and they are highly sought after by regional and international collectors,” says Remy Julia, head of watches for Christie’s Middle East, India and Africa.

“The present reference 1675 with the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in red is an exceedingly rare example of a Rolex GMT-Master model, and given that it has never previously been offered to the market we anticipate strong interest in this timepiece from collectors in the UAE and around the world.”

Sheikh Mohammed has a historic affinity with the Rolex brand. Putting this rare horology collector’s item up for auction is a landmark moment, which shares its roots with the growth of the UAE as a nation.

When the UAE was founded and its seven constituent emirates consequently united in 1971, and HH Sheikh Mohammed named the new country’s first Minister of Defence — the youngest official in the world to hold this position — it was during this time of emergence and growth onto the world’s stage that Rolex first started being ordered and worn by the Ruler of Dubai.

The historic timepiece will be available for viewing at Jumeirah Emirates Towers from March 19.