France, Saudi Arabia sign 6 billion euro theme park deal near Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have finalized a deal for three new theme parks near Paris, including a major attraction inspired by the Japanese manga series Dragon Ball Z. The agreement, signed on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the Crown Prince's two-day state visit to France, is valued at approximately 6 billion euros and is expected to create around 22,000 jobs. The entertainment complex will be developed near CergyPontoise in the Val-d'Oise department, roughly 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. Officials said the project is on a scale not seen in France since the opening of Disneyland Paris. The development will be led by the Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. Construction is expected to take several years, though no definitive opening date has been set. The parks will be built and opened in phases. The project originated from a shared enthusiasm for manga between the two leaders. Advisers to Macron said the concept emerged from discussions about their mutual appreciation for Japanese comics, particularly Dragon Ball Z.