ˈɜːli ɪn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ, ɡɹˈæbɑːɹ spˈɛnt tˈuː jˈɪɹz nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti θɹˈiː ænd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn æt ðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən skˈuːl ʌv ˌoːɹɪˈɛntəl ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ ɪn dʒoːɹdˈeɪniənɹˈuːld ˈiːst dʒɚɹˈuːsələm.
Early in his career, Grabar spent two years (1953 and 1960–1961) at the American School of Oriental Research in Jordanian-ruled East Jerusalem.