A new destination for anime fans could soon take shape just outside Paris, with “Dragon Ball Z” at the center of a major international entertainment development. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans for a dedicated Dragon Ball Z theme park in Cergy-Pontoise, bringing one of Japan’s most recognizable pop-culture franchises into an ambitious new leisure project backed by Saudi Arabia
The attraction is expected to form part of a three-park development led by Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company. With a reported budget of $7 billion USD, the broader project represents a significant investment in France’s entertainment sector. Beyond the scale of the parks themselves, the development is also expected to have a substantial impact on employment, with approximately 22,000 new jobs projected across the three attractions.
A Dragon Ball Z Theme Park Is Coming to the Paris Region
Une annonce hors normes.
Vous connaissez mon intérêt pour les mangas. Vous savez aussi ma détermination à attirer en France les investissements qui créent des emplois et rendent possibles les projets les plus ambitieux.
Avec l’Arabie saoudite, nous faisons une annonce sans…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 24, 2026
The planned attraction will be located in Cergy-Pontoise, around 45 minutes northwest of central Paris. The site has some amusement-park history of its own, having previously been home to Mirapolis, a short-lived theme park that operated in the area before closing in the late 1980s.
This time, however, the ambitions are considerably larger. The proposed Dragon Ball Z park will be one of three attractions planned for the same development, giving the project a much broader footprint than a standalone anime destination would.
For “Dragon Ball Z,” the move into a dedicated physical destination reflects just how far the franchise has traveled beyond television and manga. Created by Akira Toriyama, the Dragon Ball universe has become one of the most commercially influential anime properties in the world. Its characters, battles, and visual language have remained deeply recognizable across generations of fans.
A dedicated park also creates opportunities to translate that familiarity into an immersive experience. Rather than simply displaying franchise merchandise or themed attractions, a destination built around “Dragon Ball Z” can place visitors inside the world they have spent years watching on screen.
The choice of France is significant, too. Japanese manga and anime have developed an unusually strong following in the country, making France one of the most important markets for the culture outside Japan. That existing audience gives the project a potentially receptive home.
Why Saudi Arabia Is Investing in France’s Entertainment Future
The project is being developed by Qiddiya Investment Company, which operates under Saudi Arabia’s broader push to expand its entertainment, tourism, and cultural industries. The company is chaired by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
That makes the proposed French development part of a much bigger story than anime alone. Saudi Arabia has increasingly looked beyond its domestic market for major entertainment and cultural partnerships. International projects allow the country to build relationships with established creative markets while bringing its investment power into new territories.
According to the announcement, discussions between Macron and bin Salman have included their mutual interest in manga and anime culture. That connection has helped frame the project as a cultural and economic partnership rather than simply a commercial theme-park investment.
The €6 billion budget gives the development considerable weight. Its projected economic impact could extend beyond the parks themselves, particularly through construction, hospitality, retail, food, and tourism.
Employment is another major part of the proposal. The three-park development is expected to create around 22,000 jobs in France, potentially making it a significant local economic project once construction and operations are fully underway.
For Cergy-Pontoise, the development could also reshape the area’s identity as an entertainment destination. A globally recognized franchise such as “Dragon Ball Z” gives the location an immediate international hook, while the broader three-park concept could encourage visitors to spend more time in the region.
What the Dragon Ball Z Park Could Mean for Anime Culture
There is something particularly fitting about “Dragon Ball Z” becoming the face of a project of this scale. The franchise has spent decades turning anime fandom into a global cultural phenomenon.
Its influence extends well beyond television screens. Characters such as Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza have become instantly recognizable figures in popular culture, while the franchise continues to generate video games, films, collectibles, apparel, and collaborations.
A permanent physical destination takes that relationship one step further. Theme parks have traditionally relied on blockbuster films, fantasy worlds, and established entertainment properties to create immersive attractions. Anime franchises are increasingly capable of doing the same.
The planned park could therefore become an important test for how anime properties translate into large-scale destination entertainment in Europe. If successful, it could demonstrate that the audience for Japanese animation is strong enough to support experiences built around entire fictional worlds.
For France, the project could also reinforce its position as one of Europe’s strongest markets for Japanese pop culture. Manga already occupies a prominent place within the country’s publishing and youth culture, while anime has become increasingly mainstream.
Featured image: Toei Animations
