France and Saudi Arabia Agree to Build 6 Billion Euro Theme Park

France and Saudi Arabia agreed on Monday, August 24, 2026, to construct a 6 billion euro ($7 billion) manga-themed amusement park project near Paris, expected to create roughly 22,000 jobs. The proposal was formally announced by the Élysée Palace during an official visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the French capital.

The sprawling development is set to feature three distinct theme parks near Courdimanche and Cergy in the Val-d’Oise region, located northwest of Paris. The project draws inspiration from the global Japanese manga and anime franchise Dragon Ball Z, with primary financial backing coming from Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Investment Company under the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.

The concept originated during discussions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in December 2024. Aides noted that the bilateral proposal developed after both leaders discovered a mutual enthusiasm for the anime franchise during a diplomatic state visit.

In an official statement released on Monday, the Élysée Palace confirmed that Saudi Arabia signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with France "worth six billion euros."

French officials framed the multi-billion-euro venture as evidence of strong foreign investment in the national economy, though construction is expected to span several years and key development details remain unsettled. Regional authority leaders noted that planning for the project involved 18 months of preliminary work.

Hailing the scale of the venture, French President Emmanuel Macron described the plan as an "unprecedented" proposal, "the likes of which we haven't seen since Disneyland Paris."

The site designated for the project previously housed Mirapolis, a partially Saudi-financed French amusement park that opened in the late 1980s. Mirapolis struggled with low attendance numbers, ticket counterfeiting, and operational disputes before permanently closing its doors in 1991.

Addressing the major regional undertaking, local Member of Parliament Aurélien Taché criticized the decision-making process, stating that residents were being presented with a fait accompli by "Saudi and French princes."

The investment coincides with a wider expansion across the French leisure sector, including major developments at Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix, and Puy du Fou. Financing for the Dragon Ball Z park aligns with Saudi Arabia's overarching strategy to expand global investments in entertainment, sports, and tourism while diversifying its national economy beyond crude oil revenue.

Parallel to the bilateral trade talks, press freedom advocacy groups raised formal objections regarding the official visit. In a joint statement, the SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, and SGJ-FO unions expressed opposition to the state reception, asserting that the visit "looks like a provocation for defenders of media freedom and freedom of expression."

During the two-day diplomatic trip, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Saudi Crown Prince also co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-French strategic partnership council to address ongoing regional security concerns across the Middle East.