 He had studied finance and economics at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec from 1995 to 2002, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, before returning to Beirut where he became a professor of economics or computer science at the Lebanese International University.His girlfriend lives in Canada, and one of his two brothers is still studying in Canada, while the other lives in Beirut along with his mother Nabila Qotob.Nabila has denied Assem's involvement with Al-Qaeda

He speaks English, French, Arabic and German, and drives a 1965 MG.