Professional Preparation
PhD - Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations - Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Cultures and Histories of Muslim Societies
Harvard - 2018
MA - Medieval Studies
Southern Methodist University - 2008
Research Areas
Islamic Art and Architectural History
Fatimid Studies
Arabic
Islamic Studies
Medieval Islamic World
Medieval Islamic Sicily
Publications
The Fatimid Crescent: Understanding a Complex Religio-Political Cosmos through Lunar Symbolism 2025 - Book Chapter
A tale of two port cities : Al-Mahdiyya, Palermo, and the timber trade of the medieval Mediterranean ; Příběh dvou přístavních měst : Mahdia, Palermo a obchod se dřevem ve středověkém Středomoří 2023 - Journal Article
Bell-lamp of Oran from the Perspective of Art History 2019 -
Other
Bell-lamp of Oran from the Perspective of Cultural History 2019 -
Encyclopedia Entry
Through the Eyes of Jūdhar: Reconstructing the Tenth-Century World of a Fatimid Chamberlain 2018 - Other
From sound to light: The changing symbolism of bells in Medieval Iberia in Christian and Muslim contexts 2008 - Other
The Reverberations of Santiago's Bells in Reconquista Spain 2008 -
Journal Article
Projects
The MENARAH Initiative (Middle Eastern and North African Research of Art and History Initiative) at the University of Texas at Dallas is a pioneering research lab within the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities and Technology. It explores the intersection of history, art history, and digital humanities, focusing on the Islamic world and its surrounding regions. MENARAH aims to reshape scholarship on these areas by integrating cutting-edge tools like VR, 3D modeling, and digital media to create open-access educational resources. We welcome research on, but not limited to, the historic and modern Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. As both a digital and physical hub, MENARAH promotes engagement with the rich material culture of Islamic civilizations, empowering students and scholars to explore diverse societies through modern, collaborative methods.
Beyond the Blue Gate is a feature-length documentary produced by MENARAH Productions and Dr. Ali Asgar H. Alibhai (UT Dallas) and directed by Moroccan PhD student Amine Faali. The film explores the history and art history of Fez, Morocco—once a major capital and enduring center of learning, faith, and craftsmanship—through its iconic monuments, multicultural heritage, and enduring role in the Islamic West. Featuring interviews with scholars, artisans, and community voices, as well as Dr. Alibhai’s own 15-year scholarly connection to the city, the documentary highlights Fez’s layered legacies while underscoring how art history reveals the migrations of ideas, faiths, and people that shaped the city’s greatness.
The Muqaddima is a digital heritage project led by Dr. Ali Asgar H. Alibhai with student collaborators from the MENARAH Lab. Using advanced video game technology, it reconstructs the ninth-century version of the mosque as it may have appeared in the era of Ibn Khaldūn (14th c.), allowing immersive exploration of its architecture, furnishings, and artistic networks across the Mediterranean and Islamic world. The project combines rigorous scholarship with innovative design to reshape Islamic art pedagogy and make the Maghrib’s architectural legacy accessible to global audiences.
News Articles
Golsa Eghbali, an Iranian international student at UT Dallas, pivoted from architecture to art history to pursue her passion for Persian carpet design under the mentorship of Dr. Ali Asgar Alibhai.
Guided by Dr. Ali Alibhai and motivated by rigorous mentorship, both Nida Jaffer MA Art History UTD 2025 (now a PhD student at Brown) and Ketaki Devani BA Art History UTD 2024 (now a PhD student at the University of Chicago) exemplify how Bass School education facilitates advanced academic pathways in art history.
