Saudi Arabia is set to invest €6 billion in a new entertainment complex comprising three theme parks in Cergy-Pontoise, near Paris, in what French President Emmanuel Macron has described as an investment on a scale not seen in the sector since Disneyland Paris. The project is expected to create 22,000 jobs, with one of the parks likely to be dedicated to the Japanese manga and anime franchise Dragon Ball Z.
The project has roots in a 2024 visit to Saudi Arabia, when Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discovered a shared interest in Dragon Ball Z. Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has been developing the world’s first Dragon Ball theme park in Saudi Arabia since 2024, prompting discussions about a similar project in France.
EN DIRECT | Accords entre la France et l’Arabie saoudite, à l’occasion de la visite d’État du Prince héritier Mohammed ben Salmane. https://t.co/DSU4C3RY14
— Élysée (@Elysee) August 24, 2026
On Monday, 24 August 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron was finally able to take to X to make an “extraordinary” announcement: a €6 billion investment by Saudi Arabia in an entertainment complex in the town of Cergy-Pontoise near Paris. A total of three theme parks have been planned, one of which will probably be dedicated to Dragon Ball Z.
“You are aware of my interest in manga. You also know of my determination to attract investment to France that creates jobs and makes the most ambitious projects possible. Together with Saudi Arabia, we are making an unprecedented announcement. Three theme parks are to be built in Cergy-Pontoise. €6 billion in investment. 22,000 jobs created. Unprecedented since Disneyland Paris. A new global destination. Right here in France,” Macron wrote.
The agreement was part of a wider series of deals struck between France and Saudi Arabia during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Paris. A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed by French Economy Minister Roland Lescure and the chief executive of Qiddiya Investment Company.
Qiddiya Investment Company’s recent interest in theme parks and other forms of entertainment is part of a wider push by Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy, reducing its dependence on oil and investing in other sectors, including tourism and entertainment.
“Thank you to Qiddiya and Saudi Arabia for their confidence in our country, our talent and our future. That is the very essence of Choose France: to seek out the most ambitious projects and make France the country where they become a reality. To create jobs. To promote France’s reputation. We haven’t finished surprising the world yet. I am very proud of this achievement,” Macron added.
While several potential locations were initially considered, the entertainment complex is set to be located on the grounds of Mirapolis, a former theme park that has been closed since 1991. Qiddiya reportedly favoured the location because of its proximity to both the French capital and Disneyland Paris.
Aside from the three parks, the site is expected to include hotels, catering facilities and housing for young workers and students. Moreover, some 50,000 square metres of green space will be dedicated to biodiversity. At the time of writing, no exact timeline has been announced for the project, but construction is expected to take several years.
