FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem champions mobility innovation and safety at Muscat workshop

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FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem champions mobility innovation and safety at Muscat workshop

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has reinforced its commitment to improving road safety and advancing modern mobility services across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, following the conclusion of a regional mobility workshop held in Muscat.

Organised in collaboration with the FIA MENA Mobility Council and the Oman Automobile Association (OAA), the workshop brought together automobile clubs and mobility leaders from across the region to exchange knowledge on digitalisation, transport innovation, and road safety.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who attended the event, also met with H.E. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to support Oman’s growing leadership in smart mobility, digital licensing systems, and sustainable transport infrastructure.

A major highlight of the workshop was the presentation of several new FIA mobility services launched in the region, including the FIA Road Safety Index, the FIA Driver Safety Index, and the Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life programme. These initiatives are designed to help governments and organisations assess risk, enhance safety standards, and build long-term capacity through data-driven solutions.

The FIA Driver Safety Index, first revealed at the FIA Asia Pacific Congress in Thailand, is a subscription-based software system that provides a universal method to measure and compare driver risk across industries, countries, and vehicle types.

Highlighting the urgency of global road safety efforts, the FIA noted that more than 1.19 million people lose their lives on roads every year. Through partnerships with its international network, the federation aims to drive impactful change by supporting safer roads, better training, and modernised mobility services worldwide.

The workshop also examined the digital transformation of key international mobility tools, including the International Driving Permit (IDP) and the Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), both of which are undergoing modernisation to improve accessibility, efficiency, and user experience.

Ben Sulayem emphasized the importance of collaboration in accelerating progress across the region. “This region is home to some of the fastest-growing mobility ecosystems in the world. This workshop is about working together to harness innovation, digitalisation, and shared expertise to deliver safer and more accessible mobility for all,” he said.

The Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life programme, an FIA University initiative, has already enabled FIA Member Clubs and government authorities across 13 countries in the Americas to develop national road safety improvements. Its introduction to the MENA region is expected to support similar advancements in safety education, driver training, and the adoption of new technologies.

The Muscat workshop marked a significant step in strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating innovation that can save lives, enhance accessibility, and shape the future of mobility across the Middle East.