Paris: France and Saudi Arabia have formalized a memorandum of understanding to facilitate a significant £6 billion ($7 billion) investment by Saudi Arabia in the development of three new theme parks near Paris. The announcement was made from the ‚¬Å¡¬°lys©e Palace, the official residence of the French president, during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's two-day visit to France.
According to France24.com, the ambitious project, described as "colossal" by officials, will be spearheaded by Qiddiya, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The parks are set to be constructed near Cergy-Pontoise, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed enthusiasm on X, stating that the attractions would serve as a "new global destination."
The parks are projected to generate around 22,000 direct jobs, surpassing the employment figures of Disneyland Paris, which currently employs approximately 20,000 people. The genesis of the project can be traced back to a discussion between President Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in December 2024 in Riyadh, where they found common ground in their appreciation for manga, particularly the series Dragon Ball Z.
While reports had surfaced over the summer suggesting the possibility of a theme park dedicated to the iconic Japanese franchise in the Val-d'Oise region, no official confirmation was provided until now. Macron's office has confirmed that one of the parks will indeed be manga-themed, while the themes for the remaining two parks are yet to be disclosed.
The development of the parks will occur in stages, with construction expected to span several years. The ‚¬Å¡¬°lys©e Palace did not provide a specific timeline for the opening of the parks. Addressing concerns about partnering with Riyadh amidst criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, the French presidency emphasized that the primary focus is on attracting projects without engaging in political discourse.
France has highlighted the significance of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit, marking his first trip outside Saudi Arabia in almost a year, aside from international summits. A French presidential official noted that the visit underscores the strength and vitality of the Franco-Saudi relationship.
However, the visit has not been without controversy. Three journalists' unions, SNJ-CGT, CFDT-Journalistes, and SGJ-FO, voiced their opposition to France hosting the Saudi leader. In a joint statement, they referenced an ongoing French investigation into a complaint filed in 2021 regarding the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi critic with US residency, who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The unions criticized the visit as a provocation to advocates of media freedom.
In December 2021, Macron was one of the first Western leaders to meet with the crown prince following the Khashoggi incident. Since then, the Saudi crown prince has made several visits to France. Saudi Arabia is also preparing to host significant global events, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, the kingdom remains closely engaged with developments in Iran, particularly in the context of the US-Israeli conflict.