Saudi Arabia pledged six billion euros, roughly $7 billion, to build three mega theme parks at Cergy-Pontoise on the outskirts of Paris, a commitment announced by French President Emmanuel Macron on social media after a memorandum of understanding was signed during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit on Monday. The investment arrives as France courts Gulf capital to anchor large-scale tourism infrastructure, and the sum dwarfs most recent European leisure developments.
The financing vehicle is Qiddiya
The project is being financed by Qiddiya, the Saudi entertainment and investment group that is already developing the world’s first Dragon Ball theme park at its namesake destination outside Riyadh. That existing asset makes the manga rumor Macron teased, he noted his own interest in manga while declining to confirm themes, more than idle speculation. Qiddiya’s track record suggests the intellectual property pipeline is already in place.
Jobs and scale framed against Disneyland Paris
Macron said the parks would generate 22,000 jobs and operate on a scale not seen since the creation of Disneyland Paris, which currently draws about 16 million visitors a year. The comparison is deliberate: it positions the Saudi-backed venture as a direct competitor for the European family-tourism spend that Disney has dominated for three decades. Whether the attendance math supports three new gates in the same catchment remains untested.
What to watch next
The memorandum is non-binding, and no construction timeline or capital-draw schedule was disclosed. Investors should watch for the first tranche of committed equity, the finalization of land rights at Cergy-Pontoise, and whether Qiddiya secures co-investors or remains the sole financier. The Dragon Ball rumor, if confirmed, would also signal a shift toward IP-heavy, single-anchor parks rather than the broad-brand model Disney pioneered.