He was known for his blend of traditional influences with European-style art with his paintings mainly revolved around life in the city of Tangier, where he was lived.

Born in Rabat where he received an Islamic education, R'bati and his family moved to Tangier at 25 where he pursued a career as an artisan carpenter and as a chef.

[5][4] R'bati's daughter described his youth as sociable, disliking school and saving money to buy watercolors, colored pencils and pens to draw.

[5] R'bati often painted on canvases, wood and tbilats, rarely selling his works in favor of handing them out for free.

[10][3]: 46  The same year, he moved to Marseille as an immigrant worker at a sugar plant belonging to Saint-Louis Sucre [fr] before returning to Tangiers in 1922.

[2][3]: 20 R'bati later worked as a messenger and as a guard for the Tangier branch of the Banco de Bilbao, where he painted during his night shifts, selling his artwork and postcards at a souvenir shop.

[3]: 29  His paintings were purchased by Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz, Manuel II of Portugal, Charles de Beaupoil, and Barbara Hutton.

[3]: 46  Two of his sons, Abdelkader and Abdelmalek ben Mohammed R'bati (1900–1978),[13] continued painting, often using their defunct father's signature on their works.

[3]: 46–47  R'bati's daughter recalls him as an affable man who often attended social gatherings in Tangier, including ones reserved for women.