He is the elder son of the 13th Sultan of Johor, Abdul Jalil Muazzam Shah by his second wife, Tengku Puteh binti Daeng Chelak, third daughter of Yamtuan Muda of Riau, Daeng Chelak. He succeeded on the death of his father on January 29th, 1761. Crowned in February 1761 at the age of nine, Ahmad Riayat Shah reigned under a Council of Regency.