‘When they smile, they mean it’
Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s office at the recent 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Congress has a large, plate-glass window facing the sea.
“Look at this – that’s the scenery!” he said of the breathtaking view of Boracay’s world-renowned white-sand beaches from inside the Crimson Resort & Spa.
“In your local accent, ‘I lab it!’” Sulayem added in an exclusive interview with Inquirer Mobility at the sidelines of the event held last Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, 2026.
Genuine
Sulayem said he has a particularly strong understanding of the Filipino community, both as a racing driver and as a native of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“The UAE has a lot of communities of Filipinos and we deal with them with mutual respect,” he said. “I have a lot of Filipinos working for me and they love it. They don’t want to leave. You respect your people, they respect you. So, I know the culture.”
Sulayem recalled his two Filipino mechanics who were with him at the start of his rallying career from 1986 to 1988. This was when he won the first three of his 14 titles in the Middle East Rally Championship behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica.
Sulayem also lauded Filipinos for their hospitality and kindness.
“And when they smile, they mean it,” he said. “When they say hello, they mean it with passion. They don’t say it just to please you. That’s the culture you have. You are pleasant, lovely people. Very simple and you treat people with hospitality.”
PH matters
Sulayem noted that the Philippines remains a vital partner for the FIA, especially given its vibrant motoring community.
“This is a big, important country having 112 million population,” he said. “These numbers tell you why it’s important. You know, you have engineers here. So, the culture of the automotive industry is here.”
Sulayem also lauded the work of its sole local counterpart, the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), which hosted the 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Congress.
“I am impressed,” he said. “I’m happy with the leadership of Mr. Joe Ferreria. He has so many ideas. I listened to his story – how he improved the club and his association. It is very important to make clubs very strong. If we need a strong network and we need a stronger fight, we have to have strong clubs.”
Sulayem said the FIA will continue to support its various clubs across the region.
“We communicate all the time with them,” he said. “We listen. At the end of the day, we are there to support, but we cannot just do everything ourselves.”
95-year legacy
The AAP is the country’s largest and oldest auto club, founded in 1931 as the Philippine Motor Association.
It became affiliated with the FIA in 1952 and was officially designated by then-President Elpidio Quirino as the country’s National Auto Club the year after. In 1963, the group was authorized to issue the Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP).
As of press time, the AAP offers a wide variety of membership programs for motorists that include 24/7 roadside assistance, personal accident insurance and discounts from AAP Lifestyle Partners. It continues to issue the PIDP and officiate AAP-sanctioned motorsport events, as well as advocate for policies that promote safe mobility for all Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Joe Ferreria was elected AAP President last July 2021, first sitting on the AAP board in 2009 when he became the group’s Treasurer. He also has over 40 years of experience as a financial-services-industry professional.
In July 2022, Ferreria was elected to the 16-member FIA Senate for a term until December 2026 – headed by Sulayem, the body’s main responsibilities include financial and management issues and policies that are not covered by any of the FIA World Councils. Ferreria was also elected FIA Region II President in October 2025.
The right place
Sulayem responded to criticism about holding this year’s FIA Asia-Pacific Congress in the Philippines.
“No, this is the right place and there are a lot of good Asian places,” he said. “And that’s when they said, ‘Oh, you are taking the Congress away.’ No, I’m not taking it away. This is an international federation.”
Before this, the FIA had held its Region II Roundtable last Sept. 5 to 6, 2024 in Cebu that was also covered exclusively by Inquirer Mobility. Despite the rich natural beauty of Boracay, Sulayem admitted that he didn’t have much time to relax and unwind.
“It’s a bit difficult for me to escape because, being the President, everyone wants to talk to you,” he said. “Any country, it’s about the people. You can go and see a lot of beaches somewhere, but it’s the people. And seriously, this a peaceful country with beautiful resources.”
