King Salman Award for Postgraduate Studies in the History of the Arabian Peninsula

The King Salman Award for Postgraduate Studies in the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula is an annual honorary award presented by the King Salman Center for Studies in the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula at the College of Arts at King Saud University in the capital, Riyadh. The award is divided into two main categories; the first is distinguished doctoral and master's theses, and the second is scientific research within a supportive and incentivizing program for postgraduate students.

The King Salman Award for Postgraduate Studies in the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula is overseen by a high supervisory committee comprising the Secretary-General of the Award, the President of King Saud University, and the Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah). Making recommendations and selecting the winners is entrusted to the scientific committee chaired by the Secretary-General of the Award and five members holding Ph.D. degrees.

The award is granted to Saudi postgraduate students and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in appreciation and encouragement for outstanding doctoral and master's theses, and scientific research that focused on studying the history and civilization of the Arabian Peninsula in all eras. These theses should be recent, and original, add cognitive value, and pioneering in historical research. They must also be accredited by a recognized Saudi university approved by the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the award is dedicated to their dissemination.

Nominations for the award are governed by several rules, including that nominations must come from universities or the students themselves, with the requirement of attaching a recommendation letter from one of the specialized professors. Theses and research that are eligible for the award are those evaluated by the relevant committee and according to their established criteria.

The rules include that the achievement nominated for the award and support should be pioneering, characterized by novelty and originality. The winners are selected based on the recommendations of the scientific committee, provided that those recommendations are adopted by a majority of two-thirds of its members.

The award aims to encourage and support youth to employ new media and modern technologies in serving the history of the Arabian Peninsula. It also seeks to support studies and research related to the history of the Arabian Peninsula in its various fields, with a focus on issues and events that have received insufficient research and study. The award encourages those who have completed research, books, theses, and scientific articles in this field, as well as promotes translation to and from the Arabic language within the context of the history of the Arabian Peninsula. It also honors those who excel in studies and research related to this subject.

The award has six main categories: an Appreciation Award for outstanding Saudi researchers in the studies of Arabian Peninsula history and civilization, a similar award for non-Saudi researchers in the same field, an award for doctoral dissertations, an award for scientific articles, another for translations, and encouragement awards for the youth. Each year, the award is granted to one researcher, who receives a prize of SAR500,000 and a medal bearing the award's logo. There is also a prize of SAR100,000 and a medal bearing the award’s logo for outstanding doctoral dissertations, scientific articles, and translations. Two of the Youth Encouragement Award candidates in the field of new media will receive a prize of SAR100,000 and a medal each, following the scientific and technical reports submitted by the judging panels.