 He graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1971 with a degree in economics.He earned a master's degree in economics in 1977 from AUB and studied for a PhD in development economics from 1977 to 1979 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, fulfilling all requirements for the degree except the dissertation.Haddad began his banking career at Société Générale in Beirut.