Paris: France and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding for a £6 billion ($7 billion) investment from Saudi Arabia to develop three theme parks near Paris, with one potentially being manga-themed, as announced by the French presidential office.
According to France24.com, the agreement was solidified during a two-day visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to by his initials "MBS." The investment will facilitate the construction of these parks in the Cergy-Pontoise area, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the development on social media platform X, describing it as an "unprecedented announcement" that will transform the attractions into a "new global destination."
The Qiddiya investment firm, a branch of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, will spearhead the project. The parks are projected to generate around 22,000 direct jobs, surpassing the employment numbers of Disneyland Paris, which currently employs about 20,000 people, as per the French presidency.
The project originated from a discussion between President Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in December 2024 in Riyadh, where they bonded over a mutual interest in manga, specifically "Dragon Ball Z," as reported by an adviser to Macron. Although initial reports over the summer suggested plans for a park dedicated to the iconic Japanese franchise in the Val-d'Oise region, official confirmation was pending. Macron's office has now confirmed that one of the parks will indeed be manga-themed, while the themes of the other two parks remain undisclosed.
The construction of the parks will be phased over several years, with no specified opening date yet, the €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬°lys©e stated. When questioned about delegating such a project to Riyadh amidst criticisms of its human rights record, Macron's office commented, "At no point, when we attract a project, do we seek to lecture others."
France is emphasizing the significance of the visit, noting that the Crown Prince seldom leaves Saudi Arabia except for international summits, marking this trip to France as his first in nearly a year. A French presidential official remarked on the visit, "The fact that he chose France for this visit is an important signal and testifies to the depth and dynamism of the Franco-Saudi relationship."
However, the visit has not been without controversy. Three journalists' unions, SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, and SGJ-FO, expressed their disapproval of France hosting the Saudi leader. They highlighted an ongoing French investigation into allegations of torture and forced disappearance linked to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, a US resident and critic of the Saudi leadership, was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. His remains were never found, and US intelligence has implicated MBS in the assassination, labeling it an "extrajudicial killing for which Saudi Arabia is responsible."
The unions condemned the visit, particularly after a similar visit hosted by Macron in July 2022, stating it "looks like a provocation for defenders of media freedom and freedom of expression." Despite this, Saudi Arabia continues to be a significant player on the global stage, preparing to host major international events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 Football World Cup. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring developments in the Islamic republic following the US-Israeli conflict, given its complex relationship with Iran.