Saudi Arabia is taking its entertainment expansion global. Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed a memorandum of understanding with France to develop three theme parks near Paris, with an investment of around €6 billion ($7 billion). The project, announced during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's two-day visit to France, is expected to create approximately 22,000 direct jobs, putting it on par with Disneyland Paris in employment terms.
The parks will be located near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometers northwest of Paris, and will be developed in stages over several years. No opening date has been set, but the French presidency described the investment as “colossal,” and President Emmanuel Macron called it an “unprecedented announcement” that would create “a new global destination.”
Manga and Dragon Ball Z influence
One of the three parks is expected to have a manga theme, a nod to the shared interest in manga and Dragon Ball Z that Macron and Prince Mohammed bin Salman discovered during the French president's visit to Riyadh in December 2024. The Élysée has confirmed the manga theme but has not specified whether it will be dedicated to the Japanese franchise. The other two parks' themes remain undisclosed.
The project represents a significant evolution in Saudi Arabia's entertainment strategy. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has invested heavily in domestic tourism, sports, and entertainment destinations, including the Qiddiya mega-project near Riyadh. Now, Qiddiya is extending its footprint into one of the world's most established tourism markets, giving Saudi Arabia a substantial presence in European leisure.
For France, the development promises a major new tourism and entertainment investment, alongside thousands of direct jobs. For Saudi Arabia, it is another international investment in sectors central to its diversification strategy. The agreement also underscores strengthening Franco-Saudi economic ties, with French officials noting that the crown prince rarely travels abroad except for major summits.
“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,” a French presidential official said. The theme park agreement was among several economic initiatives announced during the visit, which took place against the backdrop of the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
The Paris project comes as Saudi Arabia continues to bolster its travel and tourism credentials. The Kingdom has seen tourism growth despite regional instability, and its national carrier Saudia has maintained global punctuality leadership. Meanwhile, new hotel openings like Rosewood AMAALA are expanding the luxury hospitality sector.
If developed as planned, the €6 billion project would give Saudi Arabia a major new presence in Europe's leisure and tourism industry, taking the Kingdom's fast-growing entertainment ambitions from Riyadh to the outskirts of Paris. For travel professionals, this signals a new player in the European theme park market, with potential implications for destination marketing, tour operations, and hospitality demand in the Île-de-France region.
