Dragon Ball Theme Park Set for France With Disney-Scale Investment
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
France and Saudi Arabia have agreed to build three theme parks near Paris, including a Dragon Ball-themed venue, in a 60-billion-euro deal hailed as the largest entertainment development in Europe since Disneyland Paris opened in 1992. The project, inspired by President Emmanuel Macron's shared passion for the anime with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is expected to create approximately 22,000 jobs. Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya entertainment and investment group will fund the development as part of its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify away from oil.
Key Points
- The theme parks will be located in the Cergy-Pontoise area northwest of Paris, with the Dragon Ball zone as the centerpiece
- Total investment reaches approximately 60 billion euros (about 548 billion Hong Kong dollars)
- The project is expected to create about 22,000 direct jobs once operational
- Macron discovered his shared passion for Dragon Ball with Crown Prince Mohammed during his 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Group is providing funding as part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 diversification plan
Why It Matters
The announcement signals deepening Franco-Saudi bilateral ties, with entertainment serving as a bridge between the two nations. For Hong Kong readers, the development underscores how major global entertainment franchises are increasingly leveraging cross-border partnerships to expand their reach beyond traditional markets, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for theme park operators in Asia .