He served as Head of the Republic of Dagestan from 28 January 2013 until his resignation effective 3 October 2017.

[2] From 1990–1993 he was Chairman of the Council of Nationalities, a chamber of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR.

During the September–October crisis of 1993, he condemned president Yeltsin's decree dissolving the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia, and was one of the members of the Supreme Soviet delegation in talks with the pro-presidential side.

[1] From 20 December 2018 - Special Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since September 2016, Rajab Abdulatipov worked as a deputy of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan.