Khalil Sakakini was born in Jerusalem on January 23, 1878. He received his schooling in Jerusalem at the Greek Orthodox school, at the CMS College, and at the Zion English College where he read Literature.

In 1908, Sakakini traveled to the United Kingdom and from there to the United States. He returned to Palestine in 1908. During his stay in America, he was active teaching Arabic, translating, and contributing to the Arabic literary magazines of the East Coast. Upon his return, he worked as a journalist for the Jerusalem newspaper Al Asmai' and taught Arabic at the renowned Jerusalem Salahiyya school, and to expatriates at the American Colony.

In 1909, he founded the Dusturiyyah school, which became known for its Arab nationalism. He pioneered a system he was to use later: there were no grades, prizes or punishments for students; and there was an emphasis on music education and athletics. Sakakini led a movement to reform and Arabize the Greek Orthodox Church in Palestine, and wrote a pamphlet in 1913 titled "The Orthodox Renaissance in Palestine", which led to his excommunication. Ottoman authorities arrested him in 1917 and jailed him in Damascus for sheltering a Jewish-Polish immigrant who was -unbeknownst to him- an American spy. After his release, he joined the ranks of the Arab Revolt, which anthem he wrote.

In 1919 Khalil Sakakini went to work for the Educational Authority of Palestine in Jerusalem, and was appointed head of the Jerusalem Teachers’ College. He went on to be appointed Inspector for Education for Palestine, a post he held for twelve years, until his resignation in protest at the appointment of Herbert Samuel as High Commissioner in Palestine. At the same time, he wrote political commentaries for the newspapers Al Muqtataf, Al Hilal and Al Siyassa al Usbu`iyya, composed a number of patriotic poems, and spoke at political rallies. In 1925, Khalil Sakakini founded the Wataniyya school, and in 1938 the Nahda College in Jerusalem.

Khalil Sakakini's wife, Sultana, died in October 1939. He lived in consummate grief since, and wrote a number of poems eulogizing her. In 1948, a few days before the city was divided and its western part seized by the Israelis, the Sakakinis fled Jerusalem, one of the last Palestinian family to remain in the Qatamon quarter terrorized by Israeli mortar attacks. They left with only their personal effects, and sought refuge in Cairo where Sakakini was nominated by the Egyptian writer Taha Hussein to join the prestigious Arabic Language Academy. The sudden death of his son Sari in 1953 left him in poor health, and he died three months later on August 13, 1953. Sakakini had two daughters, Dumya and Hala, now living in Ramallah, and who have had long careers in education. Hala edited her father's journals published in 1955, and also wrote two memoirs in English: Jerusalem and I, and Twosome.

Khalil Sakakini left 12 publications to his name, including educational works, poetry collections, literary, ethical and political essays, and a journal. Over seven books and essays have been published about him. A street and a school in Jerusalem were named after him, the Jazzar's mosque library in Acre, and a Cairo street. His papers are now at the Hebrew University. He is buried at the Mar Gerges Cemetery in Cairo, his house and the schools he ran are now under Israeli rule in West-Jerusalem, and have been converted to other purposes.

In 2001, the Sakakini Centre successfully petitioned the municipality of Ramallah to rename the main thoroughfare nearest the Centre after Khalil Sakakini. The same year, the Centre began editing and publishing the diary of Khalil Sakakini which he kept from 1907 to 1952. The first volume of the projected 8 came out in 2003. [Sakakini Diaries]

In 2003, the Sakakini heirs bequeathed the Centre his valuable papers, books, and personal effects. They are currently displayed in the Centre's foyer.

As part of an expansion project [Proposal Stage Projects], a room in the current building of the Sakakini will be devoted to exhibiting these effects, as well as charting Khalil Sakakini's life, with the history of Palestine.