Ahmed el-Kalai was born in Tunis in 1936 into a family of musicians, and began to learn the oud at the age of five. He was influenced at an early stage by the Tunisina oud master, Ali Sriti, and began to give oud recitals in 1948. He also performed in an ensemble on Tunisian Radio and subsequently obtained a Diploma in Arab Music. He has served as Director of the Radio Orchestra and taught at the National Conservatory and Institute for Higher Education in Music in Tunis.