Ali Khalil has more than 15 years of experience in working in journalism, including 13 years with the global newswire Agence France-Presse (AFP). He served as Gulf correspondent based in Dubai for more than 11 years. During his service with AFP he went on reporting assignments to almost every country in the Middle East, including Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. Before joining AFP, Ali Khalil worked in London for the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat for two years.

Between 2012 and 2016, he served as an adjunct faculty at the American University of Sharjah, where he taught Writing for mass media and introduction to mass communication.

Ali Khalil earned his PhD from Durham University in the United Kingdom.

He currently teaches media storytelling.