Saudi Arabia to invest €6bn in three theme parks near Paris

Saudi Arabia is set to invest €6 billion in the development of three major theme parks near Paris, France, in a project expected to create about 22,000 jobs.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the investment on Monday following talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his official visit to Paris.

The parks will be developed in Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris, on the former site of the Mirapolis theme park.

One of the planned attractions is expected to have a manga theme, although details of the other parks have yet to be disclosed.

Macron described the investment as an “extraordinary announcement”, saying the project could create a new international tourism destination and become France’s largest theme-park investment since Disneyland Paris.

Saudi investment company Qiddiya is expected to lead the development.

The president of the Île-de-France regional council, Valérie Pécresse, welcomed the project, saying the regional government had supported efforts to attract the investment over the past 18 months.

The proposed development comes as France seeks to consolidate its position as the world’s leading tourist destination while attracting foreign investment and generating employment.

The €6 billion project is expected to transform the former Mirapolis site into a major entertainment and tourism hub, potentially drawing millions of visitors to the Paris region.