Gabbai studied and worked with directors such as Miloš Forman, Paul Schrader, Emir Kusturica and Martin Scorsese.

The first documentary he directed was his graduate thesis The King of Crown Heights, which aired on prime time by PBS and was distributed all over the world.

[3] Gabbai also worked as a photo-reporter for the South-American weekly magazine Cosas, shooting portraits of popular celebrities such as Leo Castelli, Imelda Marcos, Edward Coach, Julio Iglesias.

Memoria aired on prime time on the national Italian TV channel RAI 2, with a share of 7 million viewers.

[6] On 19 January 2010, during the 70th anniversary of Paolo Borsellino's birth, Gabbai, along with members of the foundation "Progetto Legalità" ("Project Legality"), was received by the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano to present Io ricordo.

[7] In 2013 he was the artistic director for the opening of Binario 21 at Stazione Centrale di Milano, in the presence of the highest political authorities.

Since then, the film has screened in many festivals worldwide, as well as airing on national TV-channel RAI 1 on International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2014 and 2015 and being presented at the Italian Parliament by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, together with the Minister of Education.

In 2014, Ruggero Gabbai received the Mario Francese award for the high civil value of his films within the context of historical memory.

[11] Ruggero Gabbai's film, Du TGM au TGV, premiered with Michel Boujenah at the Grand Rex cinema.