France and Saudi Arabia have announced plans for a €6 billion (£5.13 billion) theme park near Paris, described as a “new global destination” that will match the scale of Disneyland Paris. The project, agreed during talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Elysee Palace, is part of a wider effort to boost economic and defence ties between the two nations.
The development will feature three new theme parks, one of which is expected to be manga-themed, located near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30km northwest of Paris.
Project Details and Financing
Saudi entertainment and investment group Qiddiya will finance the project, with an estimated cost of €6 billion. As part of the scheme, around 22,000 jobs are expected to be created.
Macron labelled the project “extraordinary” and said it would create a “new global destination” comparable to Disneyland. He added: ”We’re not done surprising the world. Very proud of this achievement.”
Origins and Leadership
The scheme is believed to have stemmed from a discussion between Macron and Mohammed bin Salman in December 2024 in Riyadh, where they discovered their “shared passion” for manga, “and in particular Dragon Ball Z”.
Macron is known as a big manga fan, and earlier this year ended a briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by doing a hand gesture from the Dragon Ball series.
The project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), part of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The parks will open in stages, with construction expected to take years. No opening date has been released.
Broader Agreements
Macron posted on X on Sunday, calling bin Salman's two-day state visit an "important milestone". Other agreements signed during the visit cover energy, artificial intelligence, aviation financing, transport and health.
