Born in Alexandria, Egypt,[1] in 1932 as Michel Chalhoub, he is the son of Joseph Chalhoub, a precious wood merchant, and Claire Saada. His father had left the city of Zahle, Lebanon in the early twentieth century and came to settle in Egypt. Sharif was raised as a Melkite Greek Catholic.

At the British Victoria College in Alexandria, Sharif studied mathematics, physics, and languages. He speaks Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian and Turkish.[citation needed]

After obtaining a degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Cairo, he worked for five years in the business of precious wood of his father, before studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.