France signs €6 billion deal for Saudi-led theme park development near Paris
A memorandum of understanding signed during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit commits to three parks near Cergy-Pontoise, with one likely to be manga-themed.
France and Saudi Arabia have formalised a €6 billion investment agreement to construct three theme parks in the Cergy-Pontoise area, located 30 kilometres northwest of Paris. The memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday during a two-day visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking a significant economic commitment from the Gulf state to the French region.
The development is being led by Qiddiya investment firm, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. According to the Élysée Palace, the project is expected to generate approximately 22,000 direct jobs, a figure that exceeds the roughly 20,000 positions created by the existing Disneyland Paris complex. Construction and opening will occur in stages over several years, although no specific completion date has been provided.
One of the three parks is likely to be themed around manga, a concept reportedly originating from a shared interest in the *Dragon Ball Z* franchise between President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince. An adviser to the French president stated that the idea stemmed from discussions held in Riyadh in December 2024. While the themes of the remaining two parks have not yet been disclosed, the Élysée confirmed the expectation for the manga-focused attraction.
The agreement was framed by French officials as a testament to the depth of the Franco-Saudi relationship. The presidential office described the project as “colossal” and an “unprecedented announcement,” with President Macron hailing the attractions as a “new global destination.” The visit itself was noted for its rarity, as the Crown Prince’s trip to France was his first such excursion in almost a year.
However, the partnership has not been without political friction. Three journalists’ unions, including the SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, and SGJ-FO, protested the visit, citing a live French investigation into the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The unions characterised the hosting of the Crown Prince as a provocation to defenders of media freedom, given the ongoing legal proceedings in France.
In response to questions regarding human rights criticisms, the French presidential office maintained a pragmatic stance, stating that France does not seek to lecture other nations when attracting major projects. The signing of the memorandum also occurred against the backdrop of broader bilateral discussions, which included the current crisis in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia’s preparations for hosting Expo 2030 and the 2034 football World Cup.
