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Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Mohammed Ahmad Sultan Ben Sulayem (Arabic: محمد بن سليم; born 12 November 1961) is an Emirati former rally driver and motorsports executive who serves as president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of many auto racing events including Formula One.
Ben Sulayem began his career as a rally driver in the 1980s. He became one of the most successful Middle East Rally Championship drivers, winning 14 titles.
In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the United Arab Emirates in the FIA. In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. He was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs. In December 2021, he was appointed as FIA President, succeeding Jean Todt.
As President of the FIA, Ben Sulayem oversaw the restructuring of race control in 2022. In 2024, Ben Sulayem was subject to whistleblower complaints involving the certification of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, and attempting to intervene in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In 2025, he was criticized for driver punishments regarding misconduct and poor governance.
In September 2024, Ben Sulayem was appointed as UN Tourism's Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the Sport category in recognition of his efforts in integrating sustainability into global motorsport.
Sulayem was born on 12 November 1961 in Dubai, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates). He studied business at American University in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.
Ben Sulayem competed in the Middle East Rally Championship driving for Toyota and Ford. He won his first title in 1986 with a Toyota Celica and went on to win six consecutive titles through to 1991. In 1994, he won his seventh title with a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. From 1996 to 2002, Ben Sulayem won a further seven titles with Ford, making him the most successful driver in the championship with over 60 wins and 14 titles (both the records have since been broken by Nasser Al-Attiyah).
In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the UAE in FIA. In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, and he was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs.
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Mohammed Ahmad Sultan Ben Sulayem (Arabic: محمد بن سليم; born 12 November 1961) is an Emirati former rally driver and motorsports executive who serves as president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of many auto racing events including Formula One.
Ben Sulayem began his career as a rally driver in the 1980s. He became one of the most successful Middle East Rally Championship drivers, winning 14 titles.
In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the United Arab Emirates in the FIA. In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. He was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs. In December 2021, he was appointed as FIA President, succeeding Jean Todt.
As President of the FIA, Ben Sulayem oversaw the restructuring of race control in 2022. In 2024, Ben Sulayem was subject to whistleblower complaints involving the certification of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, and attempting to intervene in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In 2025, he was criticized for driver punishments regarding misconduct and poor governance.
In September 2024, Ben Sulayem was appointed as UN Tourism's Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the Sport category in recognition of his efforts in integrating sustainability into global motorsport.
Sulayem was born on 12 November 1961 in Dubai, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates). He studied business at American University in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.
Ben Sulayem competed in the Middle East Rally Championship driving for Toyota and Ford. He won his first title in 1986 with a Toyota Celica and went on to win six consecutive titles through to 1991. In 1994, he won his seventh title with a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. From 1996 to 2002, Ben Sulayem won a further seven titles with Ford, making him the most successful driver in the championship with over 60 wins and 14 titles (both the records have since been broken by Nasser Al-Attiyah).
In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the UAE in FIA. In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, and he was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs.