Khalifa is trained in architecture, urban design and masterplanning. He has public and private experience in the design and delivery of residential led projects across multiple scales of development. He is particularly attuned with RIBA Plan of Work Stages 0-3.

Khalifa holds a degree in Architecture from the Edinburgh College of Art and a Masters in Architecture from The University of Edinburgh. He also holds a combined MSc in Urban Design and City Planning from University College London (UCL). He has been a visiting guest-reviewer of student work on the Bachelors of Urban Design and Planning course at London Southbank University and the Urban Design & City planning Masters at UCL. He is a private architecture and urban design tutor, and currently the principal Urban Design Officer at Peterborough City Council. He is also a sitting Design Review Panel member for Brent, Ealing, and Haringey Borough Councils.

Khalifa co-founded West Port with Colin Cheng and Shaun Ihejetoh in 2016. He has been a consulting Urban Designer for the practice since 2023.