He was born in 1974 in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan into a family of traditional musicians. The son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat was trained by his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the art of classical music and Qawwali. Under the tutelage of his uncle, his first public performance was at the age of eleven.
His recent works include Pakistani nationalistic songs such as "Dharti Dharti" and "Hum Pakistan", and songs from Indian films such as "Jaoon Kahan" from the film "Billu Barber", "Teri Ore" from "Singh Is King", "Rabba" from "Main Aur Mrs. Khanna", "Aaj Din Chadheya" from "Love Aaj Kal" and "Rishte Naate" from " De Dana Dan".