Here's a plot twist nobody saw coming. On August 24, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Saudi Arabia would pump 6 billion euros into a massive entertainment complex near Paris. The kicker? One of the three theme parks will celebrate the beloved anime franchise Dragon Ball Z, born from a shared love between Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a 2024 state visit.
The entertainment hub will rise on the grounds of Mirapolis, an abandoned theme park that shuttered in 1991. Located in Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometers northwest of central Paris, the location offers proximity to both the French capital and Disneyland Paris. For travelers, this means a new reason to extend a Paris trip beyond the usual suspects.
What's Actually Being Built Here
The project stretches far beyond theme parks. Beyond the three attraction zones, the 50-hectare site will include luxury hotels, restaurants, housing for young workers and students, and approximately 50,000 square meters of green space designed for biodiversity. This isn't just a quick weekend draw. It's being conceived as a complete destination that could rival nearby Disneyland Paris in scale and ambition.
The Dragon Ball Z park represents part of a broader trend. Saudi Arabia has been quietly reshaping itself as a tourism powerhouse, and entertainment complexes are becoming signature draws across Europe. Meanwhile, Qiddiya Investment Company, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund subsidiary backing this project, has already begun constructing the world's first dedicated Dragon Ball Z theme park in Saudi Arabia since 2024.
Why This Matters for Your Travel Plans
The numbers tell the story. This venture will create 22,000 jobs, making it the largest entertainment investment in France since Disneyland Paris opened in 1992. Macron emphasized the scale when he posted the announcement on X: "Unprecedented since Disneyland Paris. A new global destination. Right here in France."
Construction will take several years, so don't pack your bags just yet. But travelers planning future Paris trips should mark this on the radar. When complete, the complex offers a genuinely new reason to spend time in the Paris region beyond museum visits and cafe culture. Paris layovers are already getting more interesting, and this project will only expand the possibilities.
The Bigger Picture
This deal represents part of a larger economic recalibration. Saudi Arabia is deliberately shifting away from oil dependency toward tourism, entertainment, and hospitality investments. For France, it signals confidence in the country's ability to attract major foreign investment and positions the nation as competitive in the global entertainment space.
The memorandum was signed by French Economy Minister Roland Lescure and Qiddiya's leadership during the Crown Prince's Paris visit. Multiple deals between France and Saudi Arabia were finalized during the same period, though this entertainment complex clearly captured the most public attention.
For travelers, the real payoff arrives in a few years. Imagine: anime-themed attractions, world-class hotels, and a completely reimagined corner of the Ile-de-France region. Whether you're a Dragon Ball Z devotee or simply someone looking for a fresh take on European theme park tourism, this project deserves your attention. Paris just got more interesting.
