Arif Babayev was born in Baku. He studied at the Directing Faculty of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts (1947-1953, Mehdi Mammadov's class).

He worked at the Azerbaijan State Television and Radio Committee (1956-1968), at the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio (1968-1983).

He is one of the representatives of "author" cinema in Azerbaijani cinema.

Honored Artist (1964) Arif Babayev died in 1983.

Director Arif Babayev is the brother of director Vasif Babayev.