The Union of Arab Historians in Cairo granted the General Supervisor of the Museums Department and Professor of the Department of History at Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Fahd bin Ateeq Al-Maliki, the award of His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Naim for the History and Civilization of the Arab World for the year 2020 A.C. This was for his historical study entitled: "The Floors of the Grand Mosque During the Ages from 923 to 1426 A.H., 1517 1517–2005 A.C."

Prof. Fahd Al-Maliki, in his study, highlighted the Saudi efforts in serving the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the care and attention paid in developing the floors of the Grand Mosque during the past decades for the convenience of its visitors. He addressed the most important time stages and the difficulties that they went through, as well as the corresponding facilities provided at different periods of time. He also reviewed the historical and cultural aspects of the development of the floors of the Grand Mosque at every stage, since the Prophet's era.

The study revealed that the Hijr, the Mataf, and the courtyard of the Grand Mosque used to be covered with dirt and sand. The first to cover the floors with gravel was the Commander of the Faithful, the Second Caliph of the Muslims, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Moreover, the study stated that the first person to lay the ground around the sacred Ka`bah was Abdullah bin Al-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them), who also laid the blocks to raise the Holy Ka`bah by ten cubits.

It is noteworthy that the annual award granted by the Arab Historians Union for the History and Civilization of the Arab World bears the name of His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Naim, the former mayor of Riyadh and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Institute for Urban Development.

The Union of Arab Historians has held 24 scientific symposiums since 1993 A.C. More than 300 male and female historians from various universities in the Arab world have participated in them. The union has also published 27 issues of the Journal of the Arab Historian, which is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published annually by the union.