Saudi Arabia plans to invest €6 billion ($7 billion) in a new amusement park complex near Paris. This follows a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The agreement was signed on Monday at the Elysée Palace. Both leaders discussed ways to enhance economic and defense ties between their countries.
Project Details
The project will include three theme parks, one focused on manga. It is expected to create about 22,000 jobs. Macron described the venture as a "new global destination" like Disneyland Paris. The site will be developed on the former location of Mirapolis, a theme park that closed in 1991. Besides the parks, the complex will have hotels, catering facilities, and housing for young workers and students.
Macron highlighted the importance of this investment for France's economy. He stated, "We’re not done surprising the world. Very proud of this achievement." He thanked Qiddiya, an investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, for their trust in French talent. The talks between Macron and MBS began in December 2024. They found a shared interest in manga, especially the series Dragon Ball Z.
Broader Agreements
The theme park deal is part of a larger set of agreements. These cover sectors like energy, artificial intelligence, aviation financing, transport, and health. A letter of intent was also signed to improve cooperation on defense matters, including cybersecurity and military training, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
This investment is likely to boost the French construction and tourism sectors. It will particularly benefit the Île-de-France region through more job creation and economic activity. Investors will watch for updates on the project's timeline and any new agreements from the ongoing talks between France and Saudi Arabia.
Based on reporting by: aljazeera.com, politico.eu