Eldar Guliyev was born in Baku. He studied at the directing faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (1960-1967). In the first year, he studied in the documentary film class of Roman Karmen, and then in the feature film class of Sergey Gerasimov.

Since 1967, he has worked at the “Azerbaijanfilm” film studio.

He was the founder and artistic director of the “Debut” studio (1987-2021), the founder and president of the Azerbaijan Film Directors Guild (2009-2021), and a professor at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

He played an official in the Russian-made film “Count Krestovsky” (2004, directed by Ramiz Fataliyev).

He was awarded the “National Cinema” award of the Union of Cinematographers of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2016), the “Golden Plane” international award (2018).

Honored Artist (1976), State Prize laureate (1978), People's Artist (1982), laureate of the orders "Shohrat" (2001), "Sharaf" (2011) and "Istiglal" (2021) Eldar Guliyev died in 2021 and was buried in the Yasamal cemetery.

Director, screenwriter Eldar Guliyev is the son of composer Tofig Guliyev.
Director, screenwriter Eldar Guliyev is the father of screenwriter Narmina Guliyeva.