An extraordinary project is taking shape on the outskirts of Paris. France and Saudi Arabia officially announced on Monday an agreement for the creation of three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, in the Val-d'Oise region. The announced investment amounts to €6 billion, and the project could generate approximately 22,000 jobs. One of the three planned parks will be dedicated to the world of Dragon Ball . The announcement was made during the official visit to France of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The project is to be financed by Qiddiya, the Saudi group specializing in entertainment and investment, which is central to Riyadh's leisure development strategy.
Three parks near Cergy-Pontoise
The project is therefore not limited to a simple park dedicated to the famous Japanese manga. It envisions the creation of a vast complex comprising three theme parks in the Cergy-Pontoise area, northwest of Paris. One of them will be directly inspired by Dragon Ball , the work created by Akira Toriyama that has become a global phenomenon. The specific themes of the other two parks have not yet been detailed. The chosen site is that of the former Mirapolis amusement park in Courdimanche, in the Val-d'Oise department. Opened in 1987, this amusement park closed its doors in 1991. The site could thus undergo a spectacular transformation more than 35 years after its closure.
6 billion euros and 22,000 jobs announced
The financial scale of the program is considerable. The announced amount reaches 6 billion euros. According to estimates provided during the project presentation, approximately 22,000 jobs could be created. Emmanuel Macron himself described the investment as exceptional, referring to it as "unprecedented since Disneyland Paris ." The President of the Republic also spoke of an "extraordinary announcement" and a future "global destination" in France. By comparison, this represents a considerable change of scale compared to the initial information that had circulated in recent weeks. Until now, Franco-Saudi discussions had publicly focused primarily on the possibility of building a Dragon Ball park on the former Mirapolis site, with an investment potentially exceeding one billion euros. The agreement announced on Monday ultimately covers three parks and 6 billion euros.
Dragon Ball at the heart of the Franco-Saudi project
The choice of Dragon Ball is not insignificant. Qiddiya is already developing a massive theme park dedicated to the Japanese franchise in Saudi Arabia. The group is also involved in several large-scale entertainment projects around Riyadh. According to sources close to Emmanuel Macron, the idea of a French Dragon Ball project gained momentum following the French president's visit to Saudi Arabia in 2025. Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed bin Salman reportedly share an interest in the world of the famous manga. France would thus host a European version of the strategy developed by Qiddiya, at a time when Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sports, video games, tourism, and leisure for several years.
No opening date announced
Despite the official announcement of the agreement, many details remain to be finalized. No precise opening dates for the three parks have yet been announced. Given the scale of the project, several years will be needed before the first visitors are welcomed. The exact layout of the three parks, their size, their attractions, and the detailed construction schedule also need to be defined. One thing is now certain: the long-discussed Dragon Ball park project near Paris has been radically transformed. The plan now includes three theme parks, €6 billion in investment, and some 22,000 jobs in the Cergy-Pontoise area.
