From what I remember, Fatimid starts with theocracy which is extremely helpful. I build mass trebuchets in Cairo while the rest build axemen (if you could get alot of mercenaries instead then I would just stick with them). Once you have enough soldiers, build a settler (or more if you wish) then proceed to destroy the Levant
. I know the UHV says to conquer the Levant but since the Crusaders are going to arrive very shortly with their periodic reinforcements, its much safer (and easier for me anyway) to prevent PoA from spawning and severely weaken the KoJ. PoA can be prevented from spawning by destroying Edessa, Antioch, Tyre, and Humus(?) - the city right above Damascus. The KoJ flips Acre, Sur (the city above Acre) and Jerusalem as well if it fails to conquer it. Therefore, destroy Acre and Sur. Once the KoJ spawns, destroy their stack AFTER they are weakened from taking Jersualem but do
NOT take Jerusalem itself. Take Jersualem after it has flipped to KoJ or a turn after KoJ conquered it. This way you won't risk losing soldiers to a KoJ flip. Once peace in the Levant has been established, insert irony here
, quickly use your settler, or settlers, to establish cities in the Levant (personally I re-establish Antioch first since Cillia, Sultanate of Rum, and Zenegids
WILL found cities in Northern Syria if you do not hurry).
The key to this method is speed. If you don't hurry in destroying the independent cities, the KoJ and PoA will end up too strong for you to handle in such a short timeframe. You should also keep an eye out for Zenegids as they are more likely than any of the others in founding Antioch ,and sometimes Tyre.
So remember,
War is peace, Freedom is slavery, and Ignorance is Power 
.
.You might get lucky in snagging one of the barbarian-held cities in Tocharistan if you haven't used up your free barbarian kills quota. 
