TNT to ship 1000 copies of Rashid's Legacy to libraries and institutions worldwide

Rashid's Legacy : The Genesis of the Maktoum Family and the History of Dubai was produced under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.This is the first authorised title dealing with the story of the emirate and its remarkable Ruling family. The book is 640 pages and contains 200,000 words and some 400 photographs.

Under an initiative announced by the publishers, Media Prima, the company is donating 1,000 copies to major libraries and seats of learning worldwide.

"There are all too many examples of a lack of understanding of Dubai, the UAE and the Arab World in general, particularly in the West. Even American leaders have shown that they face an absence of clear knowledge as to the realities of the moderninity and good governance that Dubai stands for," stated Lara Marrouchi, Managing Director of Media Prima. "Inscribed on the wall of the north lobby of The Library of Congress is the Latin phrase 'Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est'. This means; 'For knowledge itself is power'.

"We hope to empower those who labour under a false impression of Dubai and the UAE. And we must recognise that our sponsors - the office of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Damas, Emirates, Dubai Duty Free, Nakheel and the National Bank of Dubai. They have all directly supported this effort."

Announcing the deal with TNT, Media Prima issued a list of 500 libraries and seats of learning worldwide that will receive a copy of the English version of the book. The Arabic version of the book — due for release later this year — will see more books sent with an emphasis on the Arab world.

"This is a special consignment for us and we will ensure the books are delivered safey, securely and on-time," said Bryan Moulds, Country Manager, TNT UAE.

The list includes the National Diet Library in Japan, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the national libraries of Australia, China and Russia, the British Library, Bodleian Library at Oxford, the British Library of Political and Economic, the Library of Congress, Yale University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Washington University, Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Getty Research Institute and Princeton University.

Commenting on TNT's sense of community and social responsibility in participating in the initiative, Marrouchi added; "It is a mountainous task to ensure that so many copies get to the right people, in 66 countries. With TNT, the job just gets done with a minimum of fuss."