UQU graduate Dr. Badran bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Hunaihen has won the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Postgraduate Studies on the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula, in its second session for the year 1440 A.H./2019 A.C. He was granted the award by the general secretariat committee due to the excellence of his doctoral thesis, which focused on the history and civilization of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques heads the higher committee of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Postgraduate Studies. The committee membership includes: the President of King Saud University, Dr. Badran Al-Omar, the Secretary General of King Abdul-Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Sammari, and the Supervisor General of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Center for the Studies of the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula, Dr. Abdullah Al-Subai`i.

It is worth noting that Dr. Al-Hunaihen currently holds the position of Director of Heritage and Culture Research at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, and aims to spread knowledge of all the historical and civilizational aspects of Diriyah at a global level.