Adam Sabra  is a Professor in the History Department and King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud Chair in Islamic Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara.  His teaching and research focus on the Middle East, especially Egypt, in the medieval and early modern periods. He is particularly interested in the social and cultural history of Cairo. Having previously studied the poor of medieval Cairo, He is currently working on aristocratic families in the period 1500 – 1800. Other areas of interest include legal history and Islamic mysticism.

His teaching and research focus is on the Middle East, especially Egypt, in the medieval and early modern periods. He is particularly interested in the social and cultural history of Cairo. Having previously studied the poor of medieval Cairo, he is currently working on aristocratic families in the period 1500 – 1800. Other areas of interest include legal history and Islamic mysticism.