Ziad Rajab was born in Aleppo, Syria and was given his first oud lessons by his mother, before going to study with Bahchad Durmash. He was also a member of an orchestra that played Arab classical music, and from 1984 to 1988 he taught oud at the National Conservatory of Aleppo and in private music schools. In 1988 he moved to Greece, where he currently lives, and since 1994 he has made his own ouds. Between 1994 and 1996 he undertook a series of concerts and recitals to spread the knowledge of Syrian music, and he has since performed and recorded with numerous prominent Greek musicians. Ziad Rajab recently participated in the International Oud Meeting and has his own website.