France and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement for a €6 billion investment to develop three major theme parks near Paris, a project that French President Emmanuel Macron said could create 22,000 jobs.
The parks will be built near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometres north-west of the French capital. The announcement came during a two-day visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who held talks with Macron on economic and strategic issues.
Macron described the project as an unprecedented investment and said it would create a new international tourist destination. The development is being backed by Qiddiya, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The first park is expected to be based around the popular Japanese manga and anime franchise Dragon Ball Z, although French officials have not formally confirmed the theme. The identities of the other two parks have not yet been disclosed.
According to an adviser to Macron, the idea developed from a meeting between the French president and the Saudi crown prince in Riyadh in December 2024. During that meeting, the two reportedly discussed their shared interest in manga and Dragon Ball Z.
Construction will take place in stages and is expected to continue for several years. Officials have not announced when the parks will open.
The project is expected to become one of the largest new entertainment developments in France since Disneyland Paris. Macron said it demonstrated the ambitions of the country’s “Choose France” investment programme, which aims to attract major international projects and create employment.
The Saudi visit also resulted in agreements involving French companies. Shipping group CMA CGM signed a $434 million deal linked to the development of Jeddah’s port on the Red Sea. Rail manufacturer Alstom agreed to supply metro trains for Riyadh under a contract worth $580 million.
The investment comes despite criticism surrounding the Saudi government’s human rights record. Several French journalists’ unions protested against the crown prince’s visit, citing the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The visit was also closely watched because Mohammed bin Salman rarely travels abroad outside major international events. Macron met him during the Esports World Cup in Paris on Sunday before holding formal talks the following day.
France has promoted itself as a leading destination for foreign investment through the Choose France initiative. Since its launch in 2018, more than 230 projects worth about €87 billion have been announced, according to the Élysée Palace.
The latest Saudi investment adds another major project to France’s efforts to attract international capital, while strengthening economic ties between Paris and Riyadh.
