ROLEX "Al Maktoum X Ali Yata" Oyster Perpetual Date, ref. 15018, no. 6714095 Circa 1981 Bracelet watch in 18k (750) yellow gold presented by Emir Al Maktoum to Ali Yata Case: round, grooved bezel, screw-down back stamped "15000", signed Dial: silvered, applied baton hour markers, luminescent studs, central second hand, signed Movement: automatic cal. 3035, chronometer-certified, signed Strap: gold Oyster, endlinks 57 / Buckle: folding clasp ref. 7205 stamped "F", signed Wrist circumference: approx. 19 cm Diameter: 34 mm Gross weight: 108.00 g. This prestigious Rolex also comes with a case and outer box, a "Your Rolex Oyster" booklet, a Rolex card holder, 2 Rolex tags, one of which bears the serial number 6714095, a correspondence card with the words (in Arabic) "Yours sincerely, Zayd Ben Sultan Al Nahyane, President of the United Arab Emirates" and the United Arab Emirates emblem. A handwritten letter, written by Ali Yata's granddaughter, confirming the provenance will be given to the purchaser. Provenance: This watch was presented in the 1980s by Sheikh Rachid ben Saïd Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, to Ali Yata, Moroccan politician, leader of the Moroccan Communist Party and founder of the Al Bayane newspaper. A 18k yellow gold automatic wristwatch, Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp signed. With a presentation box and outer packaging, booklet " Your Rolex Oyster ", a card-holder, 2 Rolex tags one with the serial number 6714095, a correspondence card with the message ( Arabic) "Yours sincerely, Zayd Ben Sultan Al Nahyane, President of the United Arab Emirates" and the UAE emblem also accompanies this prestigious Rolex. Offered by Sheikh Rachid ben Saïd Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, to Ali Yata, Moroccan politician, leader of the Moroccan Communist Party, and founder of the Al Bayane newspaper. A handwritten letter from Ali Yata's granddaughter confirming the provenance will be given to the buyer. "In those turbulent years, we were deeply convinced that the ideal revolutionary leader for Morocco was indeed Ali Yata. " Bahi Mohamed Ahmed, writer and journalist Born in Tangiers in 1920, Ali Yata has gone down in the history of the Arab world as the greatest defender of Moroccan identity. A revolutionary leader, Ali Yata devoted more than 50 years of his life to relentlessly defending the sovereignty of Morocco, and more broadly that of the Arab world. His commitment has inspired many political leaders in the Middle East. In 1945, he became head of the Moroccan Communist Party. The following year, he made a solemn pledge to King Mohamed V to defend the Moroccan people from "all forms of domination and submission". Exiled from his native country from 1952 to 1957, and imprisoned for several years in France, Ali Yata returned to Morocco in 1958. On his return, he was one of the rare personalities to benefit from the restitution of Moroccan nationality by decision of King Mohamed V and Crown Prince Hassan II. Only three men were granted this privilege: Hassan II's private tutor, King Mohamed V's physician and Ali Yata. Ali Yata's political stance in favor of Morocco made him one of the two monarchs' greatest allies. While his relationship with King Mohamed V was particularly strong, he was to form a close friendship with King Hassan II. In 1971, he founded the newspaper Al Bayane, where he remained editor-in-chief until his death in 1997. An eminent journalist, his writings, articles and editorials remain today the finest testimony to the humanist and man of progress that he was. Presented for the first time at auction, this watch was offered to him in the 1980s by Sheikh Al Maktoum. Representing the admiration and respect of the United Arab Emirates for the Moroccan political leader, this Rolex is accompanied by two period photographs. One of these, from a private archive, immortalizes a key moment in Ali Yata's life: the award of the Wissam Al-Istiqlal medal, the Order of Combat for Moroccan Independence, by King Hassan II in the 1980s. Shown on the right of the illustrated photograph, Ali Yata stands facing Hassan II, who is decorating him, with Crown Prince Mohamed VI in the background. Introduced in 1981, reference 15018 was produced by Rolex until 1986. Our example, whose serial number dates its manufacture to 1981, is one of the first pieces manufactured for this model. "In those years of great turbulence, we were deeply convinced that the ideal revolutionary leader for Morocc