Yousra Dhahbi was born in Tunisia, and began studying the oud at an earlier age. Despite pursuing a medical career she continued her oud lessons with the great Tunisian oud master Ali Sriti. She was convinced to pursue a solo oud career by Naseer Shamma, whom she met while studying at the Instiut Superieur de Musique in Tunis. She cites her influences as Jamil and Munir Bashir, Ghanim Haddad and Salman Shukur, which is evident from listening to her music.