France Celebrates $7 Billion Dragon Ball Z Theme Park Paid For By Saudi Arabia: ‘You Know My Passion For Manga’
Kotaku · 2026-08-24
Saudi Arabia will fund a $7 billion Dragon Ball Z theme park in Cergy-Pontoise, just northwest of Paris, following an announcement made today, August 24, 2026. This initiative stems from a shared enthusiasm for Dragon Ball Z discovered by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Macron’s 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia. The project, which will be one of three theme parks in the area, is touted by Macron as a creator of 22,000 jobs, marking a significant development for France, with construction expected to take several years. Macron hailed it as a "new global destination" unseen since Disneyland Paris.
This investment signifies Saudi Arabia's continued strategy of utilizing its sovereign wealth fund to engage with global cultural sectors, including sports, entertainment, video games, and now anime. The kingdom's increasing involvement in these areas is viewed as an effort to divert attention from its human rights record and autocratic governance. Macron expressed gratitude to Qiddiya and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that the project aligns with the "Choose France" initiative to attract ambitious ventures, create employment, and bolster France's international standing.
*The full article also explores the broader implications of Saudi Arabia's cultural investments and the economic and political dynamics behind such large-scale international collaborations.*