France and Saudi Arabia have announced plans to jointly develop a colossal theme park inspired by the iconic Dragon Ball Z manga franchise. The ambitious project, estimated to cost €6 billion (approximately $7 billion USD), will be situated northwest of Paris.
The initiative for the French Dragon Ball theme park reportedly emerged from a meeting in 2025 between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who discovered a mutual admiration for Akira Toriyama's celebrated series. Qiddiya, a Saudi entertainment and investment conglomerate, is set to finance the development.
This is not Qiddiya's first venture into Dragon Ball-themed entertainment. The company is already constructing a similar park in Qiddiya City, an emerging entertainment hub near Riyadh. That park is slated to feature over five rides, 30 attractions, a towering 230-foot Shenron statue, hotels, and restaurants.
Saudi Arabia's involvement in large-scale entertainment projects is part of a broader strategy to enhance its international image through significant investments in sports and entertainment, a practice often referred to as "sportswashing." The kingdom has previously backed ventures such as the LIV Golf league and has acquired gaming giant EA through its Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The announcement did not specify an opening date or provide a construction timeline for the French theme park. This Dragon Ball Z attraction is one of three theme parks that France is planning to build in the vicinity of Paris.