France and Saudi Arabia Seal $7 Billion Mega Theme Park Deal and Boost Strategic Ties

France and Saudi Arabia have announced plans for a six-billion-euro ($7bn) amusement park near Paris, following high-level talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Elysee Palace.

The agreement was part of a broader package of deals signed on Monday as Emmanuel Macron and Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, look to strengthen economic and defence ties between the two nations. According to Emmanuel Macron’s office, the massive amusement park project will feature three theme parks—including one inspired by manga—located near Cergy-Pontoise, roughly 30km northwest of Paris.

Led by Qiddiya, an investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the project is projected to generate approximately 22,000 jobs. Emmanuel Macron praised the initiative as an "extraordinary" undertaking that will establish a "new global destination" comparable to Disneyland Paris, expressing gratitude to Qiddiya and Saudi Arabia for their confidence in French talent.

The project's origins trace back to a December 2024 discussion between Emmanuel Macron and MBS in Riyadh, where they bonded over a mutual love for manga, specifically "Dragon Ball Z", a presidential adviser noted. Additional agreements signed during the ceremony cover sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, aviation financing, transport, and health.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith, reporting from Paris, highlighted that a letter of intent was also signed to enhance defence cooperation, encompassing cybersecurity expertise, AI training, and military training exchanges. Furthermore, contracts were awarded to French firms during the visit, including a $434m agreement with marine logistics company CMA CGM to develop the Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea, and a $580m deal with rail transport group Alstom to supply metro carriages for Riyadh's metro.

Beyond bilateral economic and security discussions, Emmanuel Macron and MBS addressed key regional issues in a joint statement, calling for a negotiated resolution between the United States and Iran, normalization in the Strait of Hormuz, and a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, alongside broader discussions on Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.