Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula
The Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula is a cultural award in the fields of historical research, archaeological discovery, and social studies. It was established in 1989 based on a recommendation by Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was then President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. The first edition of the award was launched in 1994, with the theme “The History of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.”
The award is presented by the Literary Club in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, in the name of the late Saudi writer and historian Amin Abdullah Madani, one of the pioneers of the Saudi cultural renaissance in the modern era. He authored more than eleven works on history, Islamic culture, grammar, and travel literature, in addition to numerous contributions to newspapers and magazines.
Objectives of the Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula
The Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula aims to stimulate research activity and deepen knowledge of the history, civilization, heritage, and societal model of the Arabian Peninsula—its structure, composition, and dimensions.
Conditions of the Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula
Submitted research and works must be in Arabic, scientifically documented, and based on sound academic principles. They must not be fewer than one hundred printed foolscap pages and must be original, not copied from other sources. The scope of the submitted works must be limited to the history, geography, society of the Arabian Peninsula, and related studies. Submissions must include the author’s name, details of their academic background, comprehensive information about the research, how and why it was written, whether it has been previously published, any recognition it has received from other entities, and the author’s consent to publish or republish the work. The submitted research may take the form of a book, university thesis, independent study, scientific or archaeological discovery, or a critical edition of a manuscript. It is preferable that submissions be made through universities, research centers, specialized associations, or cultural clubs. Any research that is copied from other sources, fails to meet the conditions, or lacks complete required information will be disqualified. Individuals are not permitted to submit their works directly.
Preference for the Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula is given to new studies. The scientific committee overseeing the award may specify a particular historical period or topic to serve as the subject of the award in any given year.
A scientific committee composed of researchers and specialists was formed to oversee the activities and operations of the award, review the submitted research, examine it, and select the best among them. The committee was initially chaired by the historian and scholar Hamad Al-Jasser, followed by Professor Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Mohammed Al-Tayeb Al-Ansary, an academic specializing in archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Awarding of the Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula
The award is granted every two years and is valued at SAR100,000, granted to the author of the winning work. The Literary Club in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah may publish and distribute the winning research in its name and at the expense of the award’s sponsors, with acknowledgment of the researcher's receipt of the award.
The Amin Madani Award for Research in the History of the Arabian Peninsula is announced in newspapers within Saudi Arabia and abroad, as well as in specialized academic journals and magazines. Nominated research is submitted to the award’s official mailing address and email. The award is granted at a public ceremony held in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, attended by members of the scientific committee and the laureate, with invitations extended to those interested in academic research from inside and outside Saudi Arabia. The ceremony is held under the patronage of a public figure. Additionally, the general authority of the award issues an annual booklet summarizing the submitted works, including an abstract of the winning research and the reasons for its selection. The booklet is distributed to specialized associations and individuals interested in historical research within Saudi Arabia and beyond.