By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian News Agency
Saudi Arabia Signs will invest €6 billion ($7 billion) to develop three theme parks near Paris, under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with France on Monday, according to the French president’s office.
The agreement marks one of the largest single foreign investment commitments announced for France’s tourism and entertainment sector in recent years.
The French presidency did not immediately release the full text of the MOU, so details such as exact park locations, construction timelines, and the operating companies involved remain unconfirmed.
What is established, according to the president’s office, is the total investment figure and the fact that three separate parks are planned.
Saudi Arabia’s €6 Billion Push to Transform French Tourism
An MOU is a formal but non-binding agreement that signals intent between two parties before a final contract is signed. In this case, it lays the groundwork for Saudi capital to flow into French entertainment infrastructure, an area France has actively courted foreign investors to support ahead of major tourism pushes in the Paris region.
One of the three planned parks is expected to be built around a manga theme, the French president’s office indicated.
Manga, a style of Japanese comic book and graphic novel, has a large fan base across Europe, and a dedicated park would be a departure from more traditional Western theme-park formats already operating near Paris.
The remaining two parks have not yet been publicly described in terms of theme or concept.
Because these specifics have not been independently verified, they should be treated as preliminary until French or Saudi Arabia Signs officials release further documentation.
Context: Saudi Investment in European Entertainment
The deal fits into a broader pattern of Saudi Arabia Signs directing sovereign and private capital toward entertainment, tourism, and leisure assets abroad, part of the kingdom’s wider economic diversification efforts away from oil revenue.
France, in turn, has sought to attract large-scale foreign investment to boost job creation and tourism revenue in the greater Paris area.
Supporters of such deals argue they bring jobs, tourism revenue, and infrastructure investment to host regions.
Critics of large foreign investment agreements, particularly those involving Gulf states, have in the past raised questions about labor standards, environmental review processes, and long-term contractual terms.
No such criticism has yet been reported specifically in connection with this MOU, and neither government has commented on these points as of publication.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia Signs has agreed, via an MOU, to invest €6 billion ($7 billion) in three theme parks near Paris.
- The MOU was signed on Monday, according to the French president’s office.
- One of the three parks is expected to feature a manga theme.
- Details on the other two parks, exact locations, and timelines have not been disclosed.
- The announcement was confirmed by the French presidency; Saudi officials have not issued a separate public statement as of publication.
- Saudi Arabia Signs
FAQs:
What is a memorandum of understanding (MOU)?
An MOU is a formal statement of intent between two parties. It outlines a planned agreement but is generally not legally binding in the way a final signed contract is.
How much isSaudi Arabia Signs investing?
According to the French president’s office, Saudi Arabia has committed €6 billion (about $7 billion) toward developing three theme parks near Paris.
Where exactly will the theme parks be built?
Specific locations have not been publicly disclosed. This information will likely be released as the project moves from MOU to formal agreement.
What is the manga-themed park expected to include?
No specific details on attractions or design have been released. The French president’s office has only confirmed that one of the three parks is expected to have a manga theme.
When will construction begin?
No timeline has been announced. As an MOU, the agreement typically precedes feasibility studies and formal contracts before construction can start.
What Happens Next
Because this is a memorandum of understanding rather than a signed construction contract, the next steps would typically involve detailed feasibility studies, site selection, environmental and regulatory review, and formal investment agreements.
Neither the French presidency nor Saudi Arabia Signs officials have announced a timeline for these next stages.
Élysée Presidency of the French Republic
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