Saudi Arabia to invest €6 billion in theme parks near Paris, Macron says

France and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding for a €6 billion ($7 billion) Saudi investment to create three theme parks near Paris, including one likely to be manga-themed, the office of the French president said. The French presidency's Élysée presidential 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. The investment will see the construction of three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, some 30 kilometres northwest of Paris, it said. French President Emmanuel Macron on X hailed the "unprecedented announcement", saying the attractions would be a "new global destination". French President Emmanuel Macron on August 24, 2026 welcomed an agreement for a Saudi investment in theme parks near Paris. © @EmmanuelMacron, X The project will be led by Qiddiya investment firm, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The parks are expected to create some 22,000 direct jobs, compared with around 20,000 generated by Disneyland Paris, according to the presidency. The project "stemmed from a discussion between the President of the Republic and the...