Jordan’s values-led professional community Sira is planting its flag in the United Arab Emirates, bringing with it a bold new vision for what networking in the MENA region can, and should, look like.
Founded in 2022 by Ayah Saeed and Zara Najjar, Sira is a membership-based platform designed for meaningful connection. Instead of focusing on titles or status, Sira builds its community around shared values like empathy, authenticity, and collaboration. With the UAE naming 2025 the “Year of Community”, this expansion couldn’t come at a better time.
Not Just Another Networking Platform
Let’s be honest, most professional networking today feels a bit… forced. Sira’s founders know that feeling all too well.
“We were tired of events that felt like business card swaps with no real follow-up,” says co-founder Ayah Saeed. “People would message months later saying, ‘I’m not sure if you remember me,’ and they were right, I didn’t. Because we never truly connected.”
So they flipped the model.
- ✅ Anonymous, peer-led applications
- ✅ Zero emphasis on job titles or prestige
- ✅ Curated based on values, not résumés
- ✅ Private spaces for genuine conversations
At Sira, your title doesn’t matter, your mindset does.
A Community Built on Trust
Rather than relying on gatekeeping or exclusivity, Sira invites members from diverse backgrounds: entrepreneurs, freelancers, doctors, creatives, and more. Once inside, members get access to:
- ✔️ A private communication space
- ✔️ Monthly curated events
- ✔️ Workshops and talks with leaders like Rania Atalla and Dr. Geoff Smart
- ✔️ A network that’s focused on support, not status
Co-founder Zara Najjar puts it plainly:
“Professional networks should reflect who people are, not just what they do. We built Sira to be inclusive by design.”
$3.6M in Real Collaboration—and Counting
This isn’t just feel-good fluff. Since launch, Sira’s community has facilitated over $3.6 million in business collaborations, including hiring, investments, and partnerships. These aren’t random deals, they’re born from real conversations and authentic relationships.
Anas Qawasmeh, Fintech & Innovation Sector Lead at DIFC, shared:
“Being part of Sira has transformed how I connect professionally. It’s more than networking—it’s a space where I feel seen, supported, and truly inspired.”
Join the Movement
Sira is now welcoming new members in the UAE and across MENA who want more than a name tag and a handshake. Whether you’re in tech, medicine, design, education, or anything in between, if you value authenticity and growth, Sira might be your next community.