Habib Ali Zain al-Abidin al-Jifri is a prominent Yemeni Islamic scholar and spiritual educator, born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 16, 1971. He is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson, Hussein ibn Ali. Raised in a scholarly environment, he began his religious education at a young age, studying under major scholars in the Hejaz and Hadramawt. His most notable teachers include Habib Abdul-Qadir bin Ahmad al-Saqqaf, with whom he studied for over a decade, and Habib Umar bin Hafiz in Tarim, Yemen. In 2005, Al-Jifri founded the Tabah Foundation in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a non-profit research and advisory institution dedicated to renewing contemporary Islamic discourse to address humanity's needs, where he serves as Chairman. He is also a member of the board of directors for Dar al-Mustafa for Islamic Studies in Tarim and an active member of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan. Known for his calm demeanor and a message centered on spiritual purification, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue, Al-Jifri has become an influential figure in both the Islamic world and the West. He has hosted numerous television programs and delivered lectures at prestigious universities worldwide, including Santa Clara University and SOAS University of London, and has been a key participant in major dialogue initiatives like "A Common Word Between Us and You."

Habib Ali al-Jifri founded the Tabah Foundation in Abu Dhabi in 2005, a leading institution that aims to provide authentic Islamic insights into contemporary challenges through research, initiatives, and consultation. The foundation works to build bridges between civilizations and reformulate Islamic discourse to serve humanity. He played an active role in the international "A Common Word Between Us and You" initiative, a historic open letter from Muslim scholars to Christian leaders calling for peace, dialogue, and cooperation based on shared values. This initiative significantly advanced Muslim-Christian dialogue globally, and for his contributions, he was a recipient of the German Eugen Biser Award in 2008. Al-Jifri is consistently ranked among the world's 50 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan and Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. This recognition highlights his scholarly contributions, spiritual guidance, and global impact. He has authored several books focusing on ethics and spiritual development, including "Humanity Before Religiosity" and "The Characteristics of the Prophetic Methodology for the Muslim Woman." Furthermore, he has delivered lectures at prominent international academic institutions, such as the universities of San Diego and Southern California, and at the British House of Lords, reflecting his broad acceptance on the global stage.

Habib Ali al-Jifri began his educational journey at an early age under the tutelage of his great-aunt, the scholar Safiyya bint Alawi bin Hassan al-Jifri. He then pursued traditional Islamic and spiritual sciences according to the Hadramawt school of thought, receiving knowledge through an unbroken chain of transmission from senior scholars. His most prominent teachers included Habib Abdul-Qadir al-Saqqaf in Jeddah, Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, and the Hadith scholar of the two Holy Mosques, Muhammad bin Alawi al-Maliki. Later, he settled in Tarim, Hadramawt, from 1993 to 2003, where he studied closely with Habib Umar bin Hafiz. He also attended the College of Islamic Studies at Sana'a University in Yemen between 1991 and 1993.