diff --git a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/Cargo.toml b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/Cargo.toml
index 35cfb2c10..0e09e2434 100644
--- a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/Cargo.toml
+++ b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/Cargo.toml
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ matrix-sdk = { workspace = true, features = [
 matrix-sdk-base.workspace = true
 matrix-sdk-common.workspace = true
 matrix-sdk-ffi-macros.workspace = true
-matrix-sdk-ui = { workspace = true, features = ["uniffi"] }
+matrix-sdk-ui = { workspace = true, features = ["uniffi", "experimental-search"] }
 mime = { version = "0.3.17", default-features = false }
 ruma = { workspace = true, features = [
     "html",
diff --git a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/client_builder.rs b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/client_builder.rs
index 857683a69..f790bc5df 100644
--- a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/client_builder.rs
+++ b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/client_builder.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 // Allow UniFFI to use methods marked as `#[deprecated]`.
 #![allow(deprecated)]
 
-use std::{num::NonZeroUsize, sync::Arc, time::Duration};
+use std::{fs, num::NonZeroUsize, path::PathBuf, sync::Arc, time::Duration};
 
 #[cfg(not(any(target_family = "wasm", target_os = "android")))]
 use matrix_sdk::reqwest::Certificate;
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ use matrix_sdk::{
     encryption::{BackupDownloadStrategy, EncryptionSettings},
     event_cache::EventCacheError,
     ruma::{ServerName, UserId},
+    search_index::SearchIndexStoreKind,
     sliding_sync::{
         Error as MatrixSlidingSyncError, VersionBuilder as MatrixSlidingSyncVersionBuilder,
         VersionBuilderError,
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ pub struct ClientBuilder {
     decryption_settings: DecryptionSettings,
     enable_share_history_on_invite: bool,
     request_config: Option<RequestConfig>,
+    search_index_store: Option<SearchIndexStoreKind>,
 
     #[cfg(not(target_family = "wasm"))]
     user_agent: Option<String>,
@@ -193,6 +195,7 @@ impl ClientBuilder {
             enable_share_history_on_invite: false,
             request_config: Default::default(),
             threading_support: ThreadingSupport::Disabled,
+            search_index_store: None,
         })
     }
 
@@ -357,6 +360,26 @@ impl ClientBuilder {
         Arc::new(builder)
     }
 
+    pub fn with_search_index_store(
+        self: Arc<Self>,
+        path: String,
+        password: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Arc<Self> {
+        let mut builder = unwrap_or_clone_arc(self);
+
+        // Note: creation of the path is deferred to later.
+        let path = PathBuf::from(path);
+
+        let kind = if let Some(password) = password {
+            SearchIndexStoreKind::EncryptedDirectory(path, password)
+        } else {
+            SearchIndexStoreKind::UnencryptedDirectory(path)
+        };
+
+        builder.search_index_store = Some(kind);
+        Arc::new(builder)
+    }
+
     pub async fn build(self: Arc<Self>) -> Result<Arc<Client>, ClientBuildError> {
         let builder = unwrap_or_clone_arc(self);
         let mut inner_builder = MatrixClient::builder()
@@ -385,6 +408,20 @@ impl ClientBuilder {
             None
         };
 
+        if let Some(search_index_store) = builder.search_index_store {
+            // Create the search index directory.
+            match search_index_store {
+                SearchIndexStoreKind::UnencryptedDirectory(ref path)
+                | SearchIndexStoreKind::EncryptedDirectory(ref path, _) => {
+                    fs::create_dir_all(path)?;
+                }
+                _ => {}
+            }
+
+            // Configure the inner builder to use the search index store.
+            inner_builder = inner_builder.search_index_store(search_index_store);
+        }
+
         // Determine server either from URL, server name or user ID.
         inner_builder = match builder.homeserver_cfg {
             Some(HomeserverConfig::Url(url)) => inner_builder.homeserver_url(url),