Saudi Arabia to Invest $7bn in Theme Parks Near Paris

Saudi Arabia is set to invest $7 billion in the development of three theme parks near Paris, following an agreement signed with France on Monday.

The memorandum of understanding, valued at six billion euros, was signed during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s two-day visit to France, according to the French presidency.

The parks will be developed near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometres northwest of Paris, as part of an ambitious entertainment project led by Qiddiya, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

One of the attractions is expected to have a manga theme, with France’s presidency linking the project to the shared interest in manga between Crown Prince Mohammed and French President Emmanuel Macron.

An adviser to Macron said the two leaders had discussed their shared passion for manga, particularly Dragon Ball Z, during Macron’s visit to Riyadh in December 2024.

The project is expected to create about 22,000 direct jobs, a figure comparable to the number of jobs generated by Disneyland Paris, according to the French presidency.

Macron described the agreement as an “unprecedented announcement”, saying the attractions would create a new global destination and strengthen France’s ability to attract major international investments.

The French president’s office said discussions on the project began following the 2024 meeting between Macron and the Saudi Crown Prince, with negotiations between French officials and Qiddiya representatives beginning in March 2025.

The investment forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand its entertainment and tourism industries and diversify its economy beyond oil.

The Saudi-backed Qiddiya project already includes major entertainment developments in Saudi Arabia, including a Dragon Ball-themed park.

No official opening date has been announced for the French theme parks, with construction expected to take several years.