Early Life and Education
Farah Zafar’s journey began in the UK, where she was raised in a disciplined household that prioritized academia. Her family, having immigrated in the 1950s, instilled in her the values of hard work and perseverance. Faced with limited career choices from her father—doctor, lawyer, or dentist—Farah chose law. After completing her studies, she faced 532 rejections before securing a training contract at a small criminal legal aid office in South London. This period was challenging, marked by long hours and a demanding environment, but it laid the foundation for her resilience and work ethic.
Career Milestones
After her training, Farah secured a position at a prestigious Mayfair law firm. Her career took a significant turn when she was selected as the Sole Legal Counsel for the Engineer’s Office of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. This role marked the beginning of her influential presence in the Middle East. She went on to hold prominent positions, including roles at Omniyat, Dubai Holding, and as Chief Legal Officer for the Public Investment Fund of Saudi for Amaala. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including
- Inspiring Female Business Leader – Arabian Business 2022
- Woman of Influence in the Arab World – CEO Middle East 2021
- General Counsel of the Year – Middle East Legal Awards (2019 & 2020)
- Woman of the Year – Big Project Middle East 2019
- Legal CEO of the Year – Middle East CEO Awards 2019
Transition from Rockstar Lawyer to Tech CEO
In her current role as CEO of Lyvely, Farah is leading the development of a fully integrated platform designed to assist digital entrepeneurs, independent professionals, and creators in monetizing their skills and passions online. The future of finance is digital and Web3, and Lyvely aims to bridge this gap with social media by optimizing the experiences of digital entrepreneurs through a revenue generation model. Farah is empowering individuals to take back the power from big-tech companies and ultimately profit from their own digital presence by getting paid for doing what they love. This venture reflects her dedication to transforming the SocialFi landscape as the region’s first social monetization platform. By uniquely combining social media and monetization, she is dedicated to making it more accessible for people and professionals to transition seamlessly into a digital-first, Web3 world. As she builds this vision, her contributions continue to gain recognition with awards including:
- 50 Most Visionary Women – Entrepreneur Middle East 2025
- Legends of Entrepreneurship Award – Entrepreneur Middle East 2025
- Web3 Trailblazer of the Year – Finance ME 2025
- The Innovator – Mastercard 2024
- 100 Most Powerful People in Dubai – Arabian Business 2023 & 2024
Championing Female Empowerment
Farah Zafer is a passionate advocate for female empowerment, actively mentoring and uplifting the next generation of women leaders. She has witnessed remarkable progress in the Middle East, with Arab women making strides in leadership, sports, filmmaking, and entrepreneurship.
Her own journey—from navigating challenges in the legal industry to becoming a tech CEO—is a testament to what’s possible with dedication, innovation, and a drive for social impact. Through her work, she continues to inspire and pave the way for women worldwide.
Follow her journey on Instagram
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