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<\/p>\nSaudi Arabia and France inked on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a 6-billion-euro ($7-billion) Saudi investment to construct three theme parks near Paris, including one likely to be manga-themed, the French president’s office said.<\/p>\n
The French presidency’s Elysee Palace said the agreement for the “colossal” project was signed during a two-day visit to France by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). <\/p>\n
The investment will see the construction of three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of Paris, it said.<\/p>\n
French President Emmanuel Macron on X hailed the “unprecedented announcement,” saying the attractions would be a “new global destination.”<\/p>\n
The project will be led by an investment firm Qiddiya, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.<\/p>\n
The parks are expected to create some 22,000 direct jobs, compared with around 20,000 generated by Disneyland Paris, according to the presidency.<\/p>\n
The project “stemmed from a discussion between the president of the republic and the crown prince in December 2024” in Riyadh, where they discovered their “shared passion” for manga, “and in particular Dragon Ball Z,” an adviser to Macron told reporters.<\/p>\n
Reports had emerged over the summer of plans for a park dedicated to the iconic Japanese franchise in the Val-d’Oise region, though no official confirmation was given.<\/p>\n
Macron’s office confirmed that one park is expected to be manga-themed.<\/p>\n
The themes of the other two have yet to be disclosed.<\/p>\n
The parks will be built and opened in stages, with construction expected to take several years, the Elysee said, without giving an opening date.<\/p>\n
The trip marks a rare foreign visit for the crown prince, with Paris emphasizing that he seldom leaves his home country other than for international summits.<\/p>\n
It was his first such trip in almost a year.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Macron hosted the Saudi crown prince at the Esports World Cup, while Monday’s talks were also expected to focus on strategic issues, including events in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
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