Manga-inspired Theme Park to Be Built Near Paris
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
More menu
- BBC News
- Menu
- Home
- Climate
- World
- UK
- Business
- Tech
- Science
- Entertainment & Arts
- Health
- In Pictures
- More
- BBC Verify
- Newsbeat
Manga-inspired Theme Park to Be Built Near Paris
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Macron and bin Salman share a passion for Dragon Ball Z, according to the Élysée.
By Amy Walker
Published 20 minutes ago
Three theme parks are set to be built near Paris as part of a €6bn (£5.13bn) deal agreed between France and Saudi Arabia. The new development will include:
- A manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the move as on a scale not seen "since Disneyland Paris" and added, "you know my interest for manga."
An exact opening date has not been set, but the parks will be built near Cergy-Pontoise and are expected to open in stages over several years.
The project was announced during a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It stems from a previous discussion between Macron and bin Salman about their shared passion for Japanese comics, particularly Dragon Ball Z, according to advisers to the president.
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in Paris as part of a two-day state visit.
Macron, known to be a manga fan, ended a press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this year by doing a hand gesture from the Dragon Ball series.
The project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), part of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which previously revealed plans in 2024 to build a Dragon Ball theme park near Riyadh.
Local reports suggest the theme parks could be built on the site of the former Mirapolis park in Val-d'Oise, which closed 35 years ago.
Image source: AFP via Getty Images
Image caption: French media have suggested the parks could be built on the site of the former Mirapolis theme park.
Beyond the theme parks, the deal—which the Élysée said would create about 2,000 jobs—signals deeper ties between France and Saudi Arabia. Leaders are expected to sign agreements on health, transport, and energy during bin Salman's visit, including discussions on the US and Iran conflict.
In a post on X on Sunday, Macron described bin Salman's visit as an "important milestone." He emphasized that in the face of regional challenges, "France and Saudi Arabia have always worked together to promote peace and stability."
Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy away from oil revenues, including through investment in leisure and entertainment.