His Royal Highness was born on 30 April 1942 in Alor Setar, Kedah. He is the ninth child of the late Sultan Badlishah and the late Sultanah Asma, a daughter of the Sultan of Terengganu. His Royal Highness received his early education at Sekolah Melayu Alor Merah and later at Sultan Abdul Hamid College. During his school years, he was actively involved in sports and student organisations, and also participated in bamboo rafting activities in 1958.

His Royal Highness married Her Royal Highness Sultanah Maliha binti Tengku Ariff on 26 November 1965. They are blessed with two sons: His Royal Highness the Raja Muda of Kedah, Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah (born on 2 March 1967), and His Highness Tunku Shazuddin Ariff (born on 27 April 1970). His Royal Highness Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah is married to Her Royal Highness Che Puan Muda Zaheeda binti Mohamad Ariff, and they have one daughter and one son.

After completing his Senior Cambridge education, His Royal Highness served as a temporary teacher in 1962 before undertaking military training at the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 12 February 1964 and served in various locations, including along the Thailand–Kelantan border and during the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation. His Royal Highness retired from military service on 14 February 1974 and subsequently attended various training programmes and professional courses both in Malaysia and abroad.

His Royal Highness was appointed Tunku Temenggong of Kedah on 28 November 1981 and became a Member of the Kedah Council of Regency on 13 December 2011. He served in this capacity until 12 December 2016.

On 15 December 2016, His Royal Highness was proclaimed the 19th Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Kedah, succeeding the late Tunku Abdul Malik, who passed away on 29 November 2015.

On 12 September 2017, His Royal Highness was proclaimed the 29th Sultan of Kedah, succeeding the late Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Source: Office of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah