Saudi Arabia to invest $6bn in three manga-themed amusement parks near Paris

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has committed $6 billion to construct three manga-themed amusement parks in northeastern France, according to an agreement signed on Monday. This announcement came at the end of a two-day visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to Paris, where he was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Dragon Ball, a globally renowned Japanese manga series, will feature prominently in the new parks, though the timeline for their completion remains unspecified.

The parks, set to be constructed near Cergy-Pontoise, approximately 30 kilometers from Paris, are projected to generate about 22,000 new jobs. The Saudi side was particularly drawn to the location due to its closeness to Paris and the adjoining Disneyland Paris resort. The site, previously home to France's inaugural theme park, Mirapolis, which operated from 1987 until its closure in 2023 due to financial troubles, was once funded by private Saudi investment.

This development in France is anticipated to be favorably received, especially eight months before a presidential election in which Macron will not be able to participate, as he has already served two back-to-back terms. The election is being shaped by discussions centered around the nation's substantial public debt and reduced purchasing power.

Macron's office disclosed that discussions on the project began during a meeting between the two leaders in Riyadh in December 2024. "During a conversation at the Crown Prince's residence, the two leaders discovered a shared enthusiasm for manga," a Macron adviser explained. Formal agreements were finalized through a series of meetings starting in March 2025 between Macron's advisers and the Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The Qiddiya Investment Company is currently managing a major tourism initiative near Riyadh, which includes the first theme park dedicated to Dragon Ball, covering over 500,000 square meters.

Both Macron and Prince Mohammed seem to share interests beyond manga. They recently attended the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, which for the first time took place outside of Saudi Arabia in Paris. The Crown Prince's visit was largely focused on matters related to the ongoing Iran-US conflict.