France negotiates Saudi-funded Dragon Ball theme park for Val-d'Oise site

Negotiations at the Élysée Palace

French officials and Saudi representatives met in Paris on 24 August 2026 to negotiate bilateral commercial partnerships during the official visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. French President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince, who acts as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, co-chaired the first meeting of the Franco-Saudi strategic partnership council. A Saudi investment company is backing the project to construct a theme park inspired by the Japanese manga series Dragon Ball. High-level discussions took place at the Élysée Palace to finalize the terms of the entertainment venture alongside agreements across other commercial sectors. On 21 August 2026, the French presidency stated that while specific files remained in negotiation, numerous bilateral economic pacts were scheduled for signature on Monday to reinforce economic ties between Paris and Riyadh.

Regional development and project scale

The regional council of Île-de-France has developed the theme park proposal over an 18-month planning phase. Regional President Valérie Pécresse confirmed the timeline during a live broadcast on the TF1 television network on Monday morning. She explained that the proposed complex is designed to reach the scale of Disneyland Paris and enhance the global tourism profile of the capital region. French authorities have not published the official financing figures, but the regional administration characterized the development as a valuable source of employment and international capital.

France is the leading tourist destination in the world and we need these jobs, these investments.

Selection of the Courdimanche site

The designated location for the Dragon Ball park is in Courdimanche, a commune within the Cergy-Pontoise metropolitan area in the Val-d'Oise department, northwest of Paris. The designated terrain covers several dozen hectares and previously hosted Mirapolis, one of the first theme parks in France, which closed 35 years ago. In the late 1980s, the location was known for a large statue of Gargantua, though today only a few physical remnants persist, including a concrete block from the former ticket office and a marquee covered by vegetation. Media outlet Politico reported in early August 2026 that capital investment in the new Dragon Ball park could exceed 1 billion euros.

Bilateral relations and summit agenda

The entertainment project forms part of a broader diplomatic and commercial schedule between France and Saudi Arabia. Emmanuel Macron received Mohammed bin Salman on 23 August 2026 at the Esports World Cup before hosting official discussions at the presidential palace the following day. The bilateral agenda on 24 August 2026 covered economic cooperation, bilateral investments, and regional political matters in the Middle East. French regional leaders expressed hope that the Élysée negotiations would culminate in a finalized agreement for the development.

There is a very important meeting at the Élysée today that will perhaps sign this agreement. We are waiting for the signature.