Emmanuel Macron Seals €6bn Saudi Deal for Three Theme Parks Near Paris, Including Dragon Ball Site, Creating 22,000 Jobs

French President Emmanuel Macron has sealed a €6 billion (£5.13 billion; $7 billion) deal with Saudi Arabia to build three new theme parks near Paris, including a major Dragon Ball‑branded attraction, in a project expected to create 22,000 jobs.

The agreement, finalised on Monday, will see a vast leisure complex developed northwest of the capital as part of a wider push to deepen Franco‑Saudi economic and cultural ties.

The formal announcement arrived during a two-day state visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following high-level bilateral discussions that turned a shared enthusiasm for Japanese comics into a detailed commercial plan for the parks.

Cergy-Pontoise Chosen for Three New Theme Parks

The entertainment development will be situated near Cergy-Pontoise in the Val-d'Oise department, roughly thirty kilometres northwest of Paris, and is planned to open in phases over several years.

Macron described the enterprise as being on a scale unseen in France 'since Disneyland Paris', saying the project reflects his long-standing interest in Japanese visual storytelling.

The French leader earlier this year ended a diplomatic briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by gesturing a reference to the Dragon Ball franchise.

Advisers at the Élysée Palace said the initial concept emerged from informal conversations between Macron and the Crown Prince about their mutual appreciation for manga, 'in particular Dragon Ball Z'.

Although officials have not yet set a definitive opening timetable, municipal planners are reviewing the former Mirapolis grounds, a large commercial site that has remained vacant since the original amusement park closed thirty-five years ago.

Project financing and executive management will be handled by the Qiddiya Investment Company, an operating arm of the Saudi sovereign Public Investment Fund.

The company is currently developing a sister complex outside Riyadh that spans more than 500,000 square metres, featuring more than thirty attractions and a seventy-metre statue of the dragon Shenron, underlining the scale of Qiddiya's entertainment ventures.

Bilateral Strategy Anchors the Expansion of Theme Parks

The French project forms part of a wider campaign by Riyadh to diversify its economy away from crude oil by investing in entertainment, sports and cultural infrastructure.

Alongside the tourism initiative, the Paris summit hosted broader agreements on international transport networks, civil energy cooperation and joint healthcare projects.

The two leaders also held talks on regional security, discussing tensions linked to the conflict involving the United States and Iran.

In a statement on social media, Macron described the state visit as an 'important milestone', saying France and Saudi Arabia have worked together to promote peace and stability across the Middle East.

The discussions coincided with the relocation of the Esports World Cup to Paris, an international tournament initially scheduled for Riyadh that was moved to the French capital over regional safety concerns.

Macron hosted the Crown Prince at the tournament's closing ceremony on Sunday, reflecting the expanding cultural links between the two governments.

The theme park agreement is the latest in a series of digital and entertainment acquisitions financed by Gulf sovereign funds.

Recent deals include a ten per cent stake in Japanese game developer Capcom through the Electronic Gaming Development Company, full ownership of the Evo tournament series, and participation in the £43 billion ($55 billion) acquisition of publisher Electronic Arts alongside global investment partners.

With formal planning applications expected to move through regional channels in Val-d'Oise, the project is anticipated to support up to 22,000 jobs across construction, hospitality and long-term park operations.