- From rally legend to symbol of car culture
- The philosophy behind Ben Sulayem’s car collecting
- Types of cars in Ben Sulayem’s garage
- Ben Sulayem as part of the Gulf car‑collecting scene
- Analytical table: types of car collectors in the Gulf
- How his collection’s image influences car fans in the region
- Ben Sulayem as a mirror of the Gulf’s evolving relationship with cars
When Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s name is mentioned in the car world, what immediately comes to mind is the Emirati rally champion who dominated Middle East championships for many years before moving into one of the most important positions in global motorsport as president of the FIA. This exceptional journey from the driver’s seat to the top of world motorsport administration has never cancelled his first passion: fast and rare cars.
Behind the scenes, Ben Sulayem is also known for owning a distinctive collection of cars that combines rally machines that built his career, rare supercars, and classic icons every car enthusiast dreams of. A garage with these specifications is not read only as a “personal hobby,” but as a reflection of an important part of how car culture in the Gulf has evolved over recent decades.
From rally legend to symbol of car culture
Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s rally career is not just a few lines in a record book; it is the background that explains his taste in the cars he chooses to own today. A driver who spent his life on gravel, sand and rough roads, pushing cars to the absolute limit of what they can handle, will naturally have different taste from a businessman who has never sat in a racing seat.
Key features of this transition:
He spent years competing in Middle East and international rallies, which made him live with cars in their harshest conditions, not as an ordinary user.
His experience with modified rally cars tuned to the very edge of performance taught him to appreciate the “real” mechanics behind any car, not just how it looks.
When he moved into a global administrative role, his connection to engines did not stop; it simply changed form: from the man pressing the throttle to the man protecting and developing the rules, while in the background his passion for collecting cars continues as part of his personal identity.
With this background, it is logical that the collection he keeps is a blend of cars that tell the story of his life: rally cars, rare race cars, and road‑going supercars that represent the peak of technology in each era.
The philosophy behind Ben Sulayem’s car collecting
Car collectors in the Gulf are not all the same type; some seek investment, others are drawn to calm classics, while others lean toward pure modern extremes. In Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s case, the “collecting philosophy” can be read through three main axes:
Sporting achievement axis
Cars linked to his rally career or to models that took part in major regional and global championships.
A special interest in cars that represent a “symbol of an era” in rally or racing history.
Rarity and historical value axis
A clear attraction to limited‑production cars with special stories, whether dedicated race cars for the track or road‑legal supercars built in very small numbers.
An appreciation for cars that cannot easily be replaced and that form part of the heritage of the automotive industry itself.
Gulf passion for speed axis
Choosing cars that reflect the region’s love of high speeds and record numbers, from horsepower to acceleration and top speed.
Including models that represent peak performance in their time from brands like Mercedes, Ferrari, Porsche and others.
With this structure, his collection does not look “random” or like a simple assortment, but rather like a studied map that combines emotion, symbolism and value.
Types of cars in Ben Sulayem’s garage
By following what is said about him in specialist media and the pattern of his choices, the kinds of cars that fit Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s character can be grouped into several main categories, even without going into the details of each chassis number or individual build.
First category: rally and race cars
Cars that have competed in tough rallies or have been developed to rally specifications, whether highly modified production models or special competition cars.
For a driver like Ben Sulayem, these machines have a special emotional value; they do not just stand for “performance” but also recall stages, deserts and battles for victory.
Second category: low‑volume supercars
Supercars and hypercars from European and global marques known for producing very limited‑run models.
They represent the peak of engineering in their era in terms of power, aerodynamics and the use of advanced materials such as carbon fibre.
Third category: classic icons
Cars from different decades that may pre‑date his rally era or run alongside it, such as certain 1960s and 1970s models that have become global collector icons.
They blend elegant classic design with historical status linked to films, races or famous personalities.
Through these three categories, the garage’s identity emerges as one that connects past and present, the rally stage and the city street, raw metal and design artistry.
Ben Sulayem as part of the Gulf car‑collecting scene
Car‑collecting culture in the Gulf has developed remarkably over recent decades, moving from a small circle of luxury cars to private museum‑level collections holding hundreds of classic and exotic vehicles. In this landscape, Mohammed Ben Sulayem occupies a dual role: rally champion and global federation president, and at the same time an enthusiast and collector.
Elements that distinguish his position among collectors:
He does not come from a “businessman only” background but from the heart of motorsport, which gives him a different kind of credibility in the eyes of speed enthusiasts.
His collection, even if it is not fully public, is always read under the headline: “These are the choices of a driver who knows the difference between a beautiful car and a truly fast one.”
His presence in the collecting scene adds a sporting and practical dimension to Gulf car‑collecting culture, well beyond the purely show‑off aspect.
In this way, he becomes an example of combining professional passion with a personal hobby at the same time.
Analytical table: types of car collectors in the Gulf
The differences between Ben Sulayem’s style and other patterns in the region can be summarised analytically as follows:
Type of collector | Main goal | Preferred cars | Collection profile
Rally champion / professional driver | Preserving sporting experience, love of real performance | Rally cars, race cars, driver’s supercars more than showpieces | Focus on cars with sporting stories, deep technical setup and tuning
Classic businessman | Investment + social image | Modern luxury cars, luxury SUVs, some classics | Large collections, wide variety, strong presence of prestige brands
Classic‑car enthusiast | Passion for heritage and history | 60s–70s cars, old race cars, rare saloons | Strong focus on restoration, originality and keeping factory spec
Modern hypercar hunter | Chasing records and tech | Limited‑run hypercars, special editions of modern exotics | Focus on horsepower, top speed and “one‑of‑x” builds
Mohammed Ben Sulayem clearly sits in the “rally champion” category, with some overlap with the hypercar hunter, because at the end of the day he is a lover of top‑end speed and performance.
How his collection’s image influences car fans in the region
Even if the doors of Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s garage are not constantly open to the public, the mere knowledge that a former rally champion and global federation president keeps a distinctive car collection leaves a clear mark on the car‑enthusiast community.
Some of the impact:
Inspiration: many young people whose love of cars started by watching Middle East rallies see in his story a model showing that passion can become a professional career and a dream collection.
Reinforcing a “conscious choice” culture: instead of collecting cars purely for price, the conversation shifts toward cars with meaning and stories, whether a race car that won a championship or a rare production model.
Connecting the Gulf to the global map: having a regional figure with such weight in both motorsport and collecting sends a global signal that the Gulf is not just a market for luxury cars but an environment that creates icons in driving, collecting and governance.
Ben Sulayem as a mirror of the Gulf’s evolving relationship with cars
If we look at Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s journey from his early days in old Dubai neighbourhoods to his position at the head of the most important body in world motorsport – against the backdrop of his passion for collecting cars – we can trace a parallel path that reflects how the Gulf’s relationship with cars has changed:
From seeing the car simply as a means of daily transport to using it as a platform for expressing identity and ambition.
From limited participation in regional championships to hosting and organising the world’s biggest motorsport events in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
From raw desert speed and informal racing to organised championships, specialised collectors, museum projects, auctions and digital content followed by millions.
In this context, Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s collection no longer looks like just a private garage, but rather a piece of a much bigger picture called “Gulf car culture.”
