French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Saudi Arabia is set to invest €6 billion into the development of three major theme parks located near Paris. The proposed site for this massive project is Cergy-Pontoise, specifically on the land formerly occupied by the Mirapolis theme park to the northwest of the French capital.
In a social media statement, President Macron described the initiative as an "extraordinary announcement" and predicted that the parks would establish a "new global destination." The project is expected to generate 22,000 jobs for the region. The development plans reportedly include a manga-themed attraction, referencing the Japanese style of graphic novels and comics.
The investment is being led by Qiddiya, a Saudi development firm. Expressing his appreciation for the partnership, Macron stated, "Thank you to Qiddiya and Saudi Arabia for their confidence in our country, our talent and our future," while noting that the project represents a scale of development not seen since the creation of Disneyland Paris.
Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France regional council, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, noting that the regional authorities had been providing support for the plans over the past 18 months. During an appearance on the TF1 television network, Pécresse emphasized the economic significance of the deal, stating, "France is the world's leading tourist destination. We need these jobs. We need these investments."
"France is the world's leading tourist destination," she added during an interview with France's TF1 TV network. "We need these jobs. We need these investments."
