The announcement was presented as a spectacular project: three theme parks in Cergy-Pontoise, a €6 billion Saudi investment, and approximately 22,000 jobs promised in the long term. Among them, a park dedicated to Dragon Ball , the famous work created by Akira Toriyama. But a crucial element is still missing: authorization from the Japanese rights holders to officially exploit the Dragon Ball brand, characters, and universe in France. The project, led by Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, has not yet obtained this license. This step is far from a mere formality and seriously dampens the enthusiasm generated by the French announcements.
A Dragon Ball theme park announced before the rights were even acquired
On Monday, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to France, Emmanuel Macron unveiled a €6 billion investment to develop a vast leisure complex in Cergy-Pontoise, in the Val-d'Oise region. The plan includes up to three theme parks, as well as hotels and various other leisure facilities. The President of the Republic described the project as unprecedented in France since Disneyland Paris. Valérie Pécresse went much further regarding Dragon Ball . In a video posted on social media, the President of the Île-de-France region clearly announced the arrival of the universe created by Akira Toriyama in the Paris region and stated that Son Goku would have his own park near Paris. The problem is that the exploitation of Dragon Ball in France is not, at this stage, officially authorized by the Japanese rights holders.
Several rights holders must give their approval
The legal situation surrounding Dragon Ball is particularly complex. Since Akira Toriyama's death in March 2024, several companies have been involved in the various rights associated with his work. Among the parties involved are Bird Studio, the company founded by Akira Toriyama, the publisher Shueisha, Toei Animation, and, in certain areas of the franchise's exploitation, Bandai Namco. For a theme park to use the Dragon Ball name , its characters, its sets, and more broadly, its universe, the necessary agreements must therefore be concluded with the relevant rights holders. However, Qiddiya Investment Company does not yet have the necessary authorization for its French project.
A particularly hasty French communication
This lack of agreement contrasts sharply with how the project was presented to the public. While some official communications remained cautious about the precise licenses that would be used in the three future parks, several French statements presented Dragon Ball as practically a done deal. This communication could even complicate discussions. Japanese licensees are known to be particularly attentive to the conditions under which their brands and characters are used, especially when used abroad. Publicly presenting a project as virtually finalized before the agreements are in place could be poorly received by the partners involved.
The Saudi park Dragon Ball, however, did obtain its approval.
Qiddiya is not, however, entering this project without prior experience. The group is already developing a massive Dragon Ball theme park in Saudi Arabia . This project was announced in March 2024 with the agreement of Toei Animation. Planned for Qiddiya City, near Riyadh, it is expected to cover more than 500,000 square meters and include seven themed areas inspired by the series, over 30 attractions, and a gigantic Shenron statue approximately 70 meters tall. The situation is therefore very different: for the Saudi project, the Dragon Ball partnership has been officially finalized. For the French project, this step remains to be taken.
Three parks and 6 billion euros: the overall project is still very much on the table.
The current absence of a Dragon Ball license does not mean that the entire Cergy-Pontoise project has been abandoned. The Franco-Saudi program focuses more broadly on the development of a major leisure destination encompassing up to three theme parks. The announced investment reaches €6 billion, and approximately 22,000 jobs are expected in the long term. The Qiddiya Group is slated to finance the project. The former Mirapolis site in Courdimanche, closed since 1991, is central to the project, although the exact land area required for a complex of this size has yet to be determined. No definitive opening date has been announced.
Son Goku in Cergy? Nothing is set in stone yet.
The distinction is therefore important. A huge theme park project financed by Saudi Arabia is indeed planned near Cergy-Pontoise. Dragon Ball is one of the licenses under consideration, and Qiddiya already has a connection to this universe through its Saudi project. But contrary to what some particularly enthusiastic announcements might have suggested, the French Dragon Ball park is not yet definitively secured. Before seeing Son Goku, Vegeta, Shenron, or Kame House arrive in the Val-d'Oise region, Qiddiya still needs to obtain what matters most in a project based on such a famous license: authorization from those who hold the rights.
