As the morning sun paints the towering sand formations of Desert Rock in hues of gold and rust, Charles Dubouloz (Instagram) gazes out at the vast Saudi desert, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as YUNG approaches him to chat. “Maybe I’ll paraglide later,” he says, eyes fixed on the sandstone cliffs that seem to ripple out toward the Red Sea. For the world-renowned French alpinist, this place is more than a location, it’s a revelation.
In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project, Desert Rock stands as a surreal landscape sculpted by time, wind, and silence. And for Dubouloz, it’s a new kind of vertical playground. “I’m here exploring, climbing, and discovering something different. Yesterday I climbed a crack on the other side of the mountain, and I can’t wait to get back at it, maybe in two or three days.”
Dubouloz is the first mountaineer to become a Richard Mille partner, a partnership that feels less like sponsorship and more like kinship. “So, I’ve been with Richard Mille for three years now, and I think we share exactly the same spirit. I’m someone who is very extreme as a climber, and I believe Richard Mille is also right at the cutting edge in terms of products and philosophy,” he says. “We get along very well, we do great things together, we take part in amazing events, and I’m really proud to stand alongside the other Richard Mille athletes. We have a real bond, and I find that extremely valuable when you’re an ambassador, to feel well represented and to have partners who truly reflect and share your values.”
Dubouloz operates in realms where time bends and pressure intensifies. He’s known for pushing the limits of human endurance, from the Himalayas to the French Alps. In January 2022, he achieved a historic solo ascent of the infamous Rolling Stones route on the north face of the Grandes Jorasses, six days alone on one of Europe’s most dangerous walls, battling ice, rock, and minus-20 temperatures. No ropes, no backup. Just instinct, fear, and relentless will.
“Fear connects you to the ‘now’,” he reflects. “If there was no fear, mountaineering would be meaningless. It’s the fear that brings clarity. The day I feel none, I’ll stop climbing.” Even when you’re just starting out, fear is always there, he explains. “It’s something deeply tied to the mountain environment. As you progress, you do harder things, but that fear never fully goes away. The key is learning to manage it, to make it an asset rather than a limit. For me, fear is the best insurance I have. I often say that my fear is my life insurance, it keeps me focused, alert, and aware for very long stretches of time.”
In fact, he believes it’s time to redefine how we view fear. “It’s a powerful emotion, often seen as negative, but in my life as an alpinist, I view it as something deeply positive. It has helped me far more than it has hurt me in my career.”
This pursuit of clarity, intensity, and perfection is what binds him to Richard Mille. “The watches are made for people like me, for people who live in motion, in extreme conditions. Whether I’m scaling a face in Chamonix or navigating rock under the Arabian sun, I know the machine on my wrist is as resilient as I am.”
That machine is the Richard Mille RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat, and it’s more than just gear, it’s a trusted companion. “When I climb, I wear my RM 67-02 watch simply because it’s super tough, really light, I don’t feel it on my wrist, and I have zero fear climbing with it. That’s super important to me. If it were heavy, honestly, I wouldn’t wear it,” he says. “And if you look at almost any photo of me climbing, I’m wearing it. That’s just huge, to be able to climb with a watch like that.”
And what about the look? “This colour? I love it—it’s gorgeous, isn’t it? I usually have slightly tanned skin, so I find the terracotta colour looks great on me. It’s very original. In the mountains, for photos, it helps to have something colourful that stands out. People often aren’t nearby, so our clothes are rarely black—we wear bright colours. And this colour fits perfectly with the vibe I’m going for.”
Back at Desert Rock, Dubouloz seems invigorated by the unfamiliar terrain, massive sand mountains that rise like monuments, echoing the drama of alpine ranges in a palette of ochre and fire.
His appetite for new vertical lines is far from sated. “My next big project is to go to Pakistan this summer and try to open a new route on a peak called Gasherbrum IV, a very high-altitude mountain that has never been climbed via that route,” he shares. “The goal is to create a new path, to climb a new line on this mountain, which is considered extremely difficult. I’ll be heading to Pakistan for the whole summer, from the end of June through August. I don’t know exactly when I’ll return, it’ll depend on when we’re able to make an attempt. I really hope to accomplish something meaningful there.”
That kind of endeavour demands total dedication, and years of build-up. “Preparation for an expedition is almost a daily routine,” he says. “Every day I either go rock climbing, do endurance training, or head into the mountains. But really, this kind of expedition is mostly built on experience and the many years of practice that come before.”
For those dreaming of following in his footsteps, he offers candid advice: “Training and hard work are essential, but honestly, that part is relatively easy. What you really need is a lot of determination and serious endurance, because you need to keep going for years. Experience takes a long time to build, and it’s also a tough environment, you’re often affected by tragedy, and despite that, you have to stay motivated.”
He adds, “The greatest quality an alpinist can have is the ability to self-reflect, to keep moving forward, to stay motivated, and to constantly challenge yourself with harder and more committed climbs.”
For now, Dubouloz is content to breathe in the warm desert air and contemplate the possibilities. “I align myself to the vertical,” he says, pausing to take in the horizon. “At opposite ends of the spectrum, Arnaud [his long time climbing partner] and I find osmosis with the elements at their rawest. I don’t get that in horizontal life. Only here, when I’m up there, do I allow myself to take a breath and say, ‘wow.’”
And while the world looks on in awe at what he’ll conquer next, Charles Dubouloz continues his quiet ascent, one summit, one watch, and one fearless step at a time.
