He joined the AKU-ISMC in July 2012 and was appointed as Head Librarian for the joint library of the Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations and the Institute of Ismaili Studies in February 2014. Prior to that, he worked in various librarian roles at the American University in Cairo. In addition, he held several consultancy roles in and outside Egypt, such as Ministry of Endowment, Qatar University and the Supreme Council for Culture in Kuwait. Walid received his PhD in Library Science from Cairo University. He has also completed all course work for the Master's in Islamic Studies and a postgraduate diploma in Executive Management from the American University in Cairo. His research interests include: Arabic literature; Islamic manuscripts; bibliographies; sufism; and the history of writing. ​​