It is also known to be the birthplace of the late Sultan of Kedah and the former Yang Di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah who reigned from 1958 until his death in September 2017.

In February 2009, the palace underwent a RM70 million facelift in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of the reign of the Sultan of Kedah in 2008.

[1] This involved the construction of a new building which houses a new audience and dining halls which could accommodate 1,400 people at any one time.

Alor Setar will continue to be the capital city and commercial centre of the state.

A new railway station was also built as part of the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrification and Double Tracking Project and began operations in 2014.