The fast pace of Shah Alam’s development and its growing importance brought about the township being bestowed a city status. Shah Alam was proclaimed a City or Bandaraya, on 20th October 2000, and Majlis Perbandaran Shah Alam is now known as Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam.

The fun filled glitering ceremony that carried on the Malay tradition was held at Dataran Shah Alam. Y. Bhg. Dato’ Haji Abu Sujak Haji Mahmud was appointed as the First Mayor or Datuk Bandar, and with this proclaimation, Shah Alam’s administrative arm, Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam, became the 7th City Council in Malaysia after Dewan Bandarya Kuala Lumpur, Dewan Bandaraya Kucing Utara, Majlis Bandaraya Kucing Selatan, Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru, Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh and Majlis Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu.

The upgrading of Shah Alam’s status was based on criterias set by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Among the main criterias are: