ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Ten years after the Persian Gulf War, some structures in Kuwait are still waiting to be repaired. But that hasn't stopped the desert kingdom from putting up a new architectural jewel to show the world. Kuwaiti Television reports that the focus is on water.</s>NAJWA ASSRAN, KUWAIT TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Finally, it's open, the much awaited for attraction which everybody was anticipating was finally open to the public: the Science Center, which boasts the largest aquarium in the Middle East and its collection of land and marine animals. His highness, Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah, the figure behind this achievement open to the public. It was his highness's idea to build the magnificent Science Center in order to promote public awareness of science, technology, and nature. His highness, the emir, was accompanied by the visiting Lebanese president, Ilyas Harawi, who was also impressed by the center. They met with the people working there, including the Kuwaiti divers who included several females whose task is to take care of the fish which, by the way, include a shark. Another attraction besides the aquarium is the Imax theater with its huge screen and which airs scientific documentaries and give the impression to the viewer that you are experiencing the whole thing. The center also includes a marina which contains all kinds of wooden dows (ph) and their history. One dow has special significance, the dow called Hahera (ph), which is the oldest dow since the pre-oil era when pearl diving and fishing were the main source of livelihood. But the idea behind the Science Center is not just to build a huge aquarium or an Imax theater, but it is a step toward enhancing the importance of knowledge and to make it attainable to the hands of ordinary people by bringing it to them in a manner that is attractive to both young and old. (on camera): I am Najwa Assran, reporting for the CNN WORLD REPORT, from Kuwait.
Kuwait Opens up Science Center and Imax Theater