[citation needed] He was 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 became sultan on the death of his father on January 29, 1761 and was crowned in February 1761 at the age of nine.
As he was only nine at the time of his ascension Ahmad Riayat Shah reigned under a Council of Regency.
He died of poisoning in 1770, possibly by a Bugis chief, at Bulang, Riau and was buried in Batangan.
[citation needed] He was succeeded by his younger brother, Mahmud Shah III.