Sarah Toukan is reshaping how the Middle East handles everyday money transfers. As Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Ziina, she’s behind one of the most intuitive and locally designed fintech solutions in the region. Ziina is a peer-to-peer payments app, and its standout feature? You don’t need an IBAN—just a phone number.
In a market where bank apps are often clunky and processes outdated, Ziina feels like a breath of fresh air. And at the core of this user-first product experience is Sarah’s vision.
It started with a simple question—why is sending money still so hard?
Sarah and her brother Faisal wanted to solve that. Their answer was Ziina, an app that makes transferring money as easy as sending a message. No more confusing codes or unnecessary delays—just type in a number, enter the amount, and go.
With a strong understanding of product design and user behavior, Sarah led the creation of an experience that feels effortless. Her focus on local UI, clean aesthetics, and minimal steps helped the app gain quick traction, especially among young users.
Raising capital in fintech is no small feat, but Sarah and her team secured over $8.6 million in seed and Series A rounds. The support came from regional and international investors who saw the potential in Ziina’s simplicity and scalability.
This funding allowed Ziina to expand fast—rolling out new features, improving infrastructure, and reaching wider audiences across the UAE and beyond. Sarah’s role as Chief Product Officer means every update reflects the needs of real users, not just technical ambitions.
Sarah isn’t just building tech—she’s shaping culture. As one of the few prominent women leaders in Middle Eastern fintech, she advocates for more female representation in product development, finance, and startup leadership.
She believes better products come from diverse teams and that inclusivity isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a growth driver. Through her work and platform, she’s encouraging the next generation of women to lead in spaces often seen as male-dominated.
In a digital-first future, financial tools must be fast, familiar, and built for people—not just profit. Sarah understands this deeply. She’s creating not just an app, but a movement toward simpler, smarter finance.
By making peer-to-peer payments seamless and IBAN-free, Ziina is solving a real problem. And by focusing on design and user experience, Sarah is setting a new standard for fintech in the Middle East.
Q1: What is Ziina?
Ziina is a peer-to-peer payments app based in Dubai that allows users to send money using only a phone number—no IBAN needed.
Q2: Who is Sarah Toukan?
She is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Ziina, leading its product design and user experience strategy.
Q3: How much funding has Ziina raised?
Ziina has raised over $8.6 million in seed and Series A rounds.
Q4: What makes Ziina different from traditional bank apps?
Ziina offers a simple, fast, and IBAN-free way to transfer money, designed specifically with local users in mind.
Q5: What is Sarah Toukan’s role in fintech advocacy?
She promotes gender diversity in fintech and pushes for more inclusive product innovation across the region.
