France and Saudi Arabia have approved a theme park project worth roughly six billion euros, following bilateral talks between President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The development will be led by Qiddiya, the entertainment focused investment arm of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
The plan covers three theme parks to be built near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. One of the three will be built around manga themed attractions. Organizers expect the project to generate around 22,000 jobs. Macron described the site as a future global destination on par with Disneyland Paris.
The idea reportedly took shape during talks in Riyadh in December 2024, when the two leaders discovered a shared enthusiasm for manga, Dragon Ball Z in particular.
The theme park deal is part of a broader package of cooperation spanning energy, defense, artificial intelligence, aviation and transport. A defense letter of intent was also signed, covering cybersecurity, AI training and military cooperation. Separately announced contracts include a 434 million dollar deal for CMA CGM tied to port development and a 580 million dollar contract for Alstom to supply metro carriages.
The visit marks Mohammed bin Salman's third official trip to France, and his first international trip since signing a regional defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan. A joint statement issued after the talks also addressed negotiations over Iran, the Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian statehood and maritime security.
This account draws on reporting by Al Jazeera.