diff --git a/synapse/rest/__init__.py b/synapse/rest/__init__.py
index aa8d874f9..3d809d181 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/__init__.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha import (
     devices,
     thirdparty,
     sendtodevice,
+    user_directory,
 )
 
 from synapse.http.server import JsonResource
@@ -100,3 +101,4 @@ class ClientRestResource(JsonResource):
         devices.register_servlets(hs, client_resource)
         thirdparty.register_servlets(hs, client_resource)
         sendtodevice.register_servlets(hs, client_resource)
+        user_directory.register_servlets(hs, client_resource)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1bae0b34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import logging
+
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
+from synapse.http.servlet import RestServlet, parse_json_object_from_request
+from ._base import client_v2_patterns
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class UserDirectorySearchRestServlet(RestServlet):
+    PATTERNS = client_v2_patterns("/user_directory/search$")
+
+    def __init__(self, hs):
+        """
+        Args:
+            hs (synapse.server.HomeServer): server
+        """
+        super(UserDirectorySearchRestServlet, self).__init__()
+        self.hs = hs
+        self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.user_directory_handler = hs.get_user_directory_handler()
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def on_GET(self, request):
+        yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=False)
+        body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
+
+        limit = body.get("limit", 10)
+        limit = min(limit, 50)
+
+        try:
+            search_term = body["search_term"]
+        except:
+            raise SynapseError(400, "`search_term` is required field")
+
+        results = yield self.user_directory_handler.search_users(search_term, limit)
+
+        defer.returnValue((200, results))
+
+
+def register_servlets(hs, http_server):
+    UserDirectorySearchRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)