Watch Paparazzi

Royal Hamdan spotted wearing Richard Mille

Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — known globally on social media as Fazza — was recently photographed wearing one of the most acquisition-proof timepieces in contemporary watchmaking: the Richard Mille RM 67-02 in a special 'United Arab Emirates' edition produced for the country's national cycling team. The piece is not for sale through any retail channel, making the sighting more document than temptation.

The Richard Mille RM 67-02 was introduced as the definitive ultra-light automatic sports watch in the brand's lineup. Its case combines North Thin Ply Technology (TPT) carbon composite — the same layered quartz-fibre material Richard Mille pioneered in partnership with Swiss composite specialists — with a grade 5 titanium baseplate and movement architecture. The result is a total weight of 32 grams on the wrist, a figure that remains the benchmark for automatic watches across the industry. The skeletonized calibre CRMA7, an in-house automatic movement co-developed with Audemars Piguet Le Locle, delivers a 50-hour power reserve with variable-geometry rotor and features a free-sprung balance with variable inertia.

The RM 67-02 platform has served as Richard Mille's canvas for high-profile athlete and national federation partnerships — sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, discus thrower Alexis Sablone, and various cycling federations have each received bespoke variants. The UAE cycling team edition distinguishes itself through colourway and dial detailing referencing the national flag, produced in extremely limited numbers allocated directly to the federation and its affiliated principals. No reference number variant for this edition has ever appeared on an authorised price list.

Sheikh Hamdan is a documented Richard Mille collector and a credible sporting figure — he holds international competitive records in endurance riding and has represented the UAE in equestrian disciplines. His connection to elite sports culture makes the cycling team reference something more than a diplomatic gift worn for appearances; it reads as an informed choice within a deep collection.

Because the Richard Mille RM 67-02 'United Arab Emirates' edition has never entered commercial circulation, no official retail price exists. Standard production RM 67-02 references carry list prices in the $150,000–$180,000 range depending on configuration, with grey-market premiums pushing select athlete editions well past $300,000 when they surface — which, for this particular variant, is effectively never.