Saudi Arabia is set to finance a new Dragon Ball Z theme park in France, a $7 billion venture that marks the latest move by the Kingdom to expand its global cultural influence. The announcement follows a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. This park will be the second of its kind globally, with construction on another already underway in Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya City.
President Macron expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting his "passion for manga" and "determination to attract investments that create jobs and make the most ambitious projects possible." The initiative is presented as a significant economic opportunity for France, with projections of 22,000 new jobs. Macron compared the scale of the endeavor to that of Disneyland Paris, envisioning it as a "new global destination."
The collaboration reportedly stemmed from a shared interest in Dragon Ball Z discovered by Macron and bin Salman during Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia in 2025. The theme park is planned as one of three such attractions in Cergy-Pontoise, located northwest of Paris. Construction is expected to take several years, and an opening date has not yet been set.
This venture is seen as part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy of utilizing its sovereign wealth fund to bolster its presence in international sports, entertainment, and gaming, a move critics suggest is also intended to deflect from human rights concerns associated with its autocratic regime. The Kingdom has previously invested heavily in sports, acquired a significant stake in Electronic Arts, and attracted global attention through entertainment deals.