France, Saudi Arabia agree on €6 billion Dragon Ball Z theme park project near Paris

The project is described as a $7 billion “colossal” manga‑themed complex in multiple outlets, linking the €6 billion figure with a $7 billion valuation used by several reports. The story received extensive coverage across regional and international media. France 24 reported the investment and highlighted Macron’s focus on deals and the Middle East crisis, while Al Jazeera and Bloomberg emphasized the diplomatic dimension of the Crown Prince’s visit. Saudi Gazette and Arab News noted a parallel declaration to strengthen defense cooperation and a joint statement calling for Iran diplomacy and reaffirming support for a Palestinian state.

SoraNews24, qz.com, People.com, CNBC and Nikkei Asia detailed the Dragon Ball Z theme park component, and Euronews.com reported the plan for three parks. Le Monde.fr added a caveat that the project still lacks approval from the Japanese rights holders of the franchise. The agreement arrives amid a pattern of Saudi sovereign‑wealth investments in Europe, aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s portfolio and deepening strategic ties with key partners. For France, the infusion of €6 billion is positioned as a boost to the tourism sector and a signal of openness to Gulf capital.

The choice of a manga‑based attraction taps into the global popularity of Japanese pop culture and aligns with France’s existing enthusiasm for comics and animation. The simultaneous defense and diplomatic statements suggest the visit was intended to broaden bilateral cooperation beyond economics. Future reporting will need to confirm whether the Japanese rights holders grant the necessary licenses, as indicated by Le Monde.fr’s pending approval note. Observers will watch for additional joint statements from Macron and MBS that could further outline the scope of the defense partnership and Middle‑East diplomatic initiatives linked to the investment.