Following recent talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it has been announced that both parties have reached an agreement to build a theme park based on the popular Japanese anime "Dragon Ball" in the suburbs of Paris.
According to Japanese media reports, both sides have agreed to construct three theme parks, including the "Dragon Ball" theme park, in the Parisian suburbs. The total construction cost is estimated to reach 1 trillion Japanese Yen, with funding to be raised by a Saudi Arabian state-owned enterprise. While specific construction timelines have not yet been announced, the project is expected to take several years to complete.
Both French President Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed are avid fans of "Dragon Ball." During Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia last year, they discussed this theme park project, which ultimately led to the current collaboration.
Macron also took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce this investment plan, openly declaring his love for manga and describing it as a rare large-scale development project "since the opening of Disneyland Paris."
However, as early as 2024, Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Investment Company had already announced plans to build the world's first "Dragon Ball" theme park near the capital Riyadh. The concept art released at the time generated significant buzz, and the theme park now slated for Paris is an extension of that earlier project.
▼ Concept art for the "Dragon Ball" theme park released at the time
The love for Japanese anime in both France and the Arab world is nothing new. France previously opened the "Naruto" area, "NARUTO - Konoha Park," at the Parc Spirou Provence theme park in Southern France, which also attracted a large number of fans.
If the "Dragon Ball Z" theme park near Paris is eventually completed, it could become a new anime pilgrimage site in Europe, and also represent a landmark collaboration between Saudi Arabia's push for entertainment industry development and France's efforts in tourism and cultural exchange.
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via： Oricon news