Yahya was born and raised in Dubai, UAE. He did his undergraduate study in the Cairo University Faculty of Pharmacology, and then worked as a pharmacist for 2 years. He then pursued an MSc in Chemistry at Bilkent University in Ankara where he worked under Dr. Engin Akkaya. His research focus was on the supramolecular aspects of photodynamic therapy. He earned his degree in 2017 and joined the Tulane University Chemistry Department where he joined the Gibb Group in the fall of 2019.
His interests include supramolecular chemistry, organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry.