Ogtay Orujov was born in Baku.

He studied at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Azerbaijan State University (1964), and at the postgraduate course of the Institute of the Near and Middle East of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1967-1969).

He worked as a translator at "Azernashr" (1966-1967), at the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio (1969-1972), and as an editor at the Republican Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (since 1973).