Sala'am born in Lebanon was raised in a successful business and politically orientated family which presumably formed the basis of his future entrepreneurial and diplomatic activities. His father Muhammad Salaam in partnership with his paternal uncle Saeb Salaam founded Middle East Airlines (Lebanon’s national airline) in 1948. Saeb Salaam also served as Prime Minister of Lebanon as did another of Sala'am’s paternal uncles Rashid Karami.