Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed bin Salman announce a $7 billion investment for three mega theme parks in France
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reached an agreement to invest $7 billion in the creation of three mega theme parks on the outskirts of Paris. The project, financed by the Saudi entertainment and investment group Qiddiya, is expected to generate 22,000 jobs and will be built in Cergy-Pontoise. President Emmanuel Macron described the announcement as an extraordinary project on the scale of Disneyland Paris. While specific themes were not yet fully detailed, the administration announced that one park may be inspired by the Japanese manga series Dragon Ball. During the state visit, the two leaders also discussed regional security, energy routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, and the ongoing conflict in Palestine, where several people were allegedly killed by Israeli forces. The deal builds on a formal partnership between France and Saudi Arabia, reflecting a broader effort by Saudi Arabia to diversify its security and economic ties outside of the United States.