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Manga-inspired theme park to be built near Paris

Amy Walker
News imageGetty Images A graphic from the Dragon Ball Z comic is seen displayed on a wall above several people on computersGetty Images
Macron and bin Salman share a passion for Dragon Ball Z, according to the Élysée

Three theme parks will be built near Paris as part of a €6bn (£5.13bn) deal agreed between France and Saudi Arabia.

The new development is expected to include a manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move as on a scale not seen "since Disneyland Paris", and added "you know my interest for manga".

An opening date for the parks - which will be built near Cergy-Pontoise - has not set by the Élysée Palace, but they will open in stages and construction is expected to take years.

The project was given the green light during a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It stemmed from a previous discussion between Macron and bin Salman about their shared passion for Japanese comics, "in particular Dragon Ball Z," advisers to the president told reporters on Monday.

News imageGetty Images A smiling Macron, wearing a navy suit and black tie, poses next to bin Salman, who is wearing traditional Saudi attireGetty Images
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in Paris as part of a two-day state visit

Macron is known to be a manga fan and earlier this year ended a press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by doing a hand gesture from the Dragon Ball series.

The project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) - part of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund - which previously revealed plans in 2024 to build a Dragon Ball theme park near the country's capital, Riyadh.

According to local reports, the theme parks could be built on the site of the former Mirapolis park in Val-d'Oise, which closed 35 years ago.

News imageAFP via Getty Images A giant statue of a man, dressed in medieval clothing and folding a fork in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other, sits with his legs spread above a lake and trees in the former theme parkAFP via Getty Images
French media have suggested the parks could be built on the site of the former Mirapolis theme park

But the deal, which the Élysée said would create about 2,000 jobs, also signals deeper ties between France and Saudi Arabia.

The leaders are expected to sign several agreements on health, transport and energy during bin Salman's visit, which will include talks on the US and Iran conflict.

In a post on X on Sunday, Macron said bin Salman's two-day state visit marked an "important milestone".

He added that in the face of challenges in the Middle East, "France and Saudi Arabia have always worked together to promote peace and stability".

Saudi Arabia is aiming to diversify its economy away from its dependence on oil revenues, including via investment in the leisure and entertainment industry.

On Sunday, Macron hosted bin Salman at the closing of the Esports World Cup, which was due to be held in Riyadh but was moved to Paris due to safety concerns over the conflict in the Middle East.