France and Saudi Arabia Agree on Three Dragon Ball Z-Themed Amusement Park Project
France and Saudi Arabia have officially agreed a €6 billion (around Rp127 trillion) partnership to build three amusement parks near Paris. The mega-project is planned to include a manga-themed amusement park inspired by the popular Japanese franchise, Dragon Ball Z.
French President Emmanuel Macron warmly welcomed the agreement and assessed that its scale had not been seen since the construction of Disneyland Paris. “You know my interest in manga,” said Macron.
Although the Élysée Palace has not yet set an official opening date for the amusement park area located near Cergy-Pontoise, the attractions will be opened in stages with construction expected to take several years. According to local reports, the complex could potentially be built on the former site of the Mirapolis park in Val-d’Oise, which has been closed for 35 years.
The project received the green light during the two-day state visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to France. Presidential advisers revealed that the idea originated from earlier discussions between Macron and bin Salman about their love of Japanese comics, particularly Dragon Ball Z.
Macron, who is known as a manga fan, closed a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this year by performing the signature hand gesture from the Dragon Ball series.
The development of this project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), part of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Previously in 2024, QIC had also revealed plans to build a Dragon Ball amusement park near the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The Élysée Palace stated that the agreement is projected to create around 2,000 new jobs while strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. In addition to the entertainment sector, the two leaders are scheduled to sign a number of agreements in the fields of health, transport, and energy, as well as hold discussions related to the conflict between the US and Iran.
Through a post on social media platform X, Macron described bin Salman’s two-day state visit as “an important milestone.” He added that amid various challenges in the Middle East, “France and Saudi Arabia have always worked together to promote peace and stability.”
For Saudi Arabia, investment in the recreation and entertainment industry is part of its economic diversification strategy to reduce dependence on oil revenues. During the visit, Macron also accompanied bin Salman at the closing of the Esports World Cup, which was moved to Paris due to security concerns related to the conflict in the Middle East.