Saudi Arabia to invest $7bn in theme parks near Paris — French presidency

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France and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding for a six-billion-euro ($7 billion) Saudi investment to create three theme parks near Paris, including one likely to be manga-themed, the office of the French president said.

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The French presidency’s Elysee Palace said the agreement for the “colossal” project was signed during a two-day visit to France by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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The investment will see the construction of three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, some 30 kilometres northwest of Paris, it said.

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French President Emmanuel Macron on X hailed the “unprecedented announcement”, saying the attractions would be a “new global destination”.

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The project will be led by Qiddiya investment firm, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

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The parks are expected to create some 22,000 direct jobs, compared with around 20,000 generated by Disneyland Paris, according to the presidency.

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The project “stemmed from a discussion between the President of the Republic and the Crown Prince in December 2024” in Riyadh, when they discovered their “shared passion” for manga, “and in particular Dragon Ball Z”, an adviser to Macron told reporters.

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Reports had emerged over the summer of plans for a park dedicated to the iconic Japanese franchise in the Val-d’Oise region, though no official confirmation was given.

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Macron’s office confirmed that one park is expected to be manga-themed.

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The themes of the other two have yet to be disclosed.

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The parks will be built and opened in stages, with construction expected to take several years, the Elysee said, without giving an opening date.

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Asked about entrusting such a project to Riyadh despite criticism of its human rights record, his office said: “At no point, when we attract a project, do we seek to lecture others.”

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AFP

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