Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Mohammed Ben Sulayem
محمد بن سُلَيم
Sulayem in 2024
President of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Assumed office
17 December 2021
Preceded byJean Todt
Personal details
Born (1961-11-12) 12 November 1961
Dubai, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates)
World Rally Championship record
Active years1988, 19901995
Co-driver Ronan Morgan
TeamsToyota, Ford
Rallies23
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
Total points12
First rally1988 Acropolis Rally
Last rally1995 Rally Australia
Middle East Rally Championship
Years active1983–2002
TeamsFord, Toyota
Championship titles
14  ×  Middle East Rally Championship

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.