Rula Halawani was born in Jerusalem.  She graduated with an MA in photography from the University of Westminster, UK. She worked as a photojournalist for major news agencies, after which she established the Photography Department at Birzeit University. She has undertaken residences in New York, London and Chicago as well as having solo exhibitions of her work in Belgium, France, Norway and Jerusalem. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions including the Sharjah Biennele, Noordelicht Photofestival, as well as exhibitions in USA, Germany and the UK. Her work has also been published in numerous books on Palestinians.