It is not every day that high-stakes geopolitical summits pivot from global trade lanes to Saiyan transformations, but international diplomacy has officially entered its anime arc.
In a staggering announcement that feels equal parts fever dream and calculated economic maneuver, France and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a massive €6 billion ($7 billion USD) mega-development. The plan? Construct a trio of theme parks in the Val-d’Oise region northwest of Paris—anchored by a colossal, world-first European destination dedicated to the legendary Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.
The news dropped straight from the Élysée Palace during a rare two-day foreign visit by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While world leaders traditionally bond over state dinners and diplomatic formality, advisers revealed this massive pop-culture alliance stems from a surprisingly organic moment: a December 2024 discussion in Riyadh where President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince discovered a shared, unyielding passion for Akira Toriyama’s iconic universe.
Call it statecraft by Super Saiyan. Here is everything we know about the massive, verified deal that is set to rewrite Europe’s entertainment landscape.
The Blueprint: 22,000 Jobs and a Saiyan Empire
The investment is being spearheaded by Qiddiya Investment Company, a prominent subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), as part of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” effort to expand its footprint in global leisure and break away from oil reliance.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT: CERGYS-PONTOISE MEGA-PARKS
┌───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Total Investment │ €6 Billion ($7 Billion USD) │
├───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Location │ Cergy-Pontoise (~30 km Northwest of Paris) │
├───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Scope │ 3 Theme Parks (1 Dragon Ball Z / Manga + 2 Unannounced) │
├───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Projected Direct Jobs │ ~22,000 (Surpassing Disneyland Paris’s 20,000) │
├───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Key Developer/Financier │ Qiddiya Investment Company (Saudi PIF) │
└───────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Situated near Cergy-Pontoise, roughly 30 kilometers outside the French capital, the sprawling development will span three separate parks. While the Élysée confirmed one site will be explicitly manga-and-anime themed featuring Dragon Ball Z, the exact themes of the remaining two parks remain under wraps.
Perhaps most striking is the economic weight behind the project. French officials project the development will generate over 22,000 direct jobs—a figure that directly outpaces the roughly 20,000 direct jobs generated by Disneyland Paris. Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France region, echoed the ambition, declaring the initiative operates on a scale Europe hasn’t seen since the mouse moved to Marne-la-Vallée.
Soft Power, Criticism, and the Diplomatic Backdrop
The timing of the announcement lands amid a flurry of high-profile moves by Saudi Arabia in the global entertainment sector—ranging from major acquisitions in fighting game tournaments to multi-billion-dollar gaming funds. The Crown Prince and Macron were notably seen side-by-side at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris just hours prior to the Élysée’s formal statement.
However, the partnership has not landed without turbulence. The visit sparked vocal pushback from French journalists’ unions and human rights observers, highlighting ongoing scrutiny surrounding Saudi Arabia’s domestic record and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
When pressed on whether France should be partnering with Riyadh on such a high-visibility cultural venture, President Macron’s office maintained a decisive, investment-first posture: “At no point, when we attract a project, do we seek to lecture others,” an Élysée spokesperson stated.
From the French administration’s standpoint, the €6 billion deal serves as undeniable proof that France remains a dominant magnet for foreign direct investment, blending pop-culture relevance with staggering regional job creation.
Looking Ahead: The Long Path to Opening Day
For fans waiting to step foot onto Master Roshi’s island or face down a 70-meter Shenron, patience will be required. Construction across the multi-phase Cergy-Pontoise site will span several years, and officials have not yet attached a target opening year to the complex.
What is indisputable, however, is that the dynamic between Paris and Riyadh has found a wildly unexpected center of gravity. Between state-level economics and childhood nostalgia, two world leaders just proved that when you gather enough economic dragon balls, even the most improbable global ambitions can be summoned into reality.
