Ali Haddad is a well-known Algerian businessman, entrepreneur, and former football club president. Once hailed as one of Algeria’s wealthiest and most influential figures, his rise from a small construction contractor to a national tycoon is as remarkable as it is controversial.

Early Life and Education

Born on January 27, 1965, in Azeffoun, a town in Algeria’s Tizi-Ouzou Province, Ali Haddad was raised in a modest background. He pursued higher education at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou, graduating in 1988.

It wasn’t long after that he began building his career, starting from the ground up in Algeria’s fast-developing construction industry.

Rise in Business: Founder of ETRHB Group

Ali Haddad is best known as the founder of the ETRHB Haddad Group (Entreprise des Travaux Routiers, Hydrauliques et Bâtiments). He co-founded the company with his brothers in the early 1990s. Starting with road and building contracts, ETRHB quickly grew into one of the largest privately owned construction firms in Algeria.

Key Achievements in Business:

• Major government contracts for roadworks, infrastructure, and hydraulics.

• Expansion into bitumen production, cement, construction materials, and auto distribution.

• Diversification into media (owning Dzair TV and Dzair News), real estate, and hospitality.

Thanks to political connections and savvy deal-making, ETRHB became a household name in Algeria’s private sector.

Sports & Media Influence

In 2010, Haddad acquired an 83% stake in the popular Algerian football club USM Alger, becoming its president. His leadership brought investment and success to the club, further boosting his public profile.

He also made moves into the media industry, launching several outlets that became prominent in Algerian news and entertainment.

Role in Business Advocacy: FCE President

Ali Haddad’s influence wasn’t just in business — he stepped into policy and advocacy by becoming the President of the Forum des Chefs d’Entreprise (FCE), Algeria’s top business leaders’ forum, in 2014.

Under his leadership, the FCE sought stronger public-private partnerships, greater influence in economic planning, and support for entrepreneurship in Algeria.

Net Worth Estimate

Ali Haddad’s wealth has long been a subject of public speculation. Estimates of his net worth have varied widely:

• Some sources place his net worth at around $1.8 billion, based on his extensive business interests.

• Others estimate a more conservative figure of $300 million to $500 million, especially following legal and financial challenges.

Regardless of the exact number, he was, at his peak, among the richest men in Algeria and a symbol of private-sector success.

Legal Troubles and Controversy

Ali Haddad’s downfall began around 2019, during Algeria’s sweeping anti-corruption drive following the fall of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Legal Challenges:

• Arrested at the Algeria-Tunisia border in March 2019 for carrying undeclared foreign currency and multiple passports.

• Later charged with corruption, money laundering, influence peddling, and illegal acquisition of public contracts.

• Sentenced to 12 years in prison, with court-ordered seizures of several assets.

His legal troubles symbolized the unraveling of the old elite closely tied to Bouteflika’s regime. Once a powerful businessman, Haddad became a central figure in Algeria’s post-regime accountability efforts.

Personal Life

Ali Haddad has largely kept his personal and family life private. What’s public is his passion for football, media, and business expansion across various sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who is Ali Haddad?
Ali Haddad is an Algerian businessman and founder of ETRHB Group. He also served as the president of FCE and owned USM Alger football club.

Q2: What is his estimated net worth?
Estimates range from $300 million to $1.8 billion, though exact figures remain unconfirmed due to legal cases and asset seizures.

Q3: What caused his arrest?
He was arrested for carrying multiple passports and foreign currency, which led to investigations into larger corruption charges.

Q4: Is he still active in business today?
Due to his imprisonment and court rulings, his business influence has significantly reduced.

Conclusion

Ali Haddad’s story is one of ambition, power, success, and controversy. From humble beginnings in a small town to becoming a billionaire mogul, his rise in Algeria’s construction, media, and sports sectors was unmatched. However, his fall from grace due to political and legal scandals serves as a reminder of how closely business and politics are intertwined in Algeria.

Whether seen as a business genius or a cautionary tale, Ali Haddad remains one of the most talked-about figures in modern Algerian economic history.