Saudi Arabia has committed €6 billion (£5.13 billion) to fund the construction of three theme parks near Paris, a deal that French President Emmanuel Macron has likened to the scale of Disneyland Paris.
The ambitious project, slated for development near Cergy-Pontoise, will include a theme park drawing inspiration from the popular Japanese manga franchise Dragon Ball Z. The announcement followed a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative reportedly stems from a shared interest in Japanese comics between Macron and bin Salman.
Construction is expected to take several years, with the parks opening in stages. An official opening date has not yet been set by the Élysée Palace.
During bin Salman's visit, Macron welcomed him for a working dinner at the Élysée Palace. Discussions between the French President and the Saudi Crown Prince also touched upon their mutual appreciation for Japanese comics, with advisers noting a particular shared fondness for Dragon Ball Z.
The project marks a significant investment in France's tourism and entertainment sector, aiming to create a major new attraction on the scale of existing international theme parks. The involvement of Saudi Arabia underscores a growing trend of international investment in large-scale cultural and entertainment ventures.