France, Saudi Arabia agree on $7bn theme park project near Paris

What the report says

France and Saudi Arabia announced plans for a six-billion-euro, or about $7 billion, amusement park project near Paris after talks in Paris between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deal was presented as part of a wider package of agreements covering energy, artificial intelligence, defence, aviation financing, transport, health and tourism, reflecting a broader effort to deepen economic and strategic ties.

According to the French presidency, the theme park development would be built near Cergy-Pontoise, around 30 kilometers northwest of Paris, and include three parks, one of them expected to have a manga theme. The project is to be led by Qiddiya, an investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. French officials said the site could create roughly 22,000 jobs, and Macron described it as a major addition to France’s efforts to attract foreign investment.

Al Jazeera reported that the visit also produced defence-related understandings, including cooperation on cybersecurity, AI training and military training. Separate contracts mentioned by the French presidency include work by CMA CGM on Jeddah Islamic Port and an Alstom supply deal for Riyadh’s metro. More broadly, the visit fits Saudi Arabia’s push to expand partnerships beyond its traditional security relationships, while France seeks to maintain commercial and defence links with Riyadh.