France and Saudi Arabia have announced plans for a €6 billion ($7 billion) Dragon Ball Z-themed amusement park north-west of Paris. The Élysée Palace shared details of the project on 24 August 2026, but no construction timetable or opening date has been confirmed.
The proposal reportedly followed a 2025 meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During that meeting, the two leaders discovered their shared interest in Akira Toriyama’s influential manga and anime franchise, as outlined in the report from Reuters.
Qiddiya is funding a second Dragon Ball park
The French project will be financed by Qiddiya, a Saudi entertainment and investment group. The company is also behind a separate Dragon Ball theme park in Qiddiya City, an entertainment development outside Riyadh.
The Qiddiya City attraction is expected to feature more than five rides, 30 attractions, a 230-foot Shenron figure, hotels and restaurants. By comparison, no details have yet been released about the Paris-area park’s rides, attractions or layout.
The Dragon Ball project is one of three theme parks France is seeking to develop near Paris. At this stage, however, the announcement provides no indication of when construction will begin or when visitors might be welcomed.
Saudi Arabia’s entertainment strategy under scrutiny
The announcement forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider push into international sport, entertainment and gaming. Critics use the term sportswashing for high-profile investments intended to improve a country’s public image.
Saudi Arabia has previously established the LIV Golf league, while its Public Investment Fund recently completed the purchase of gaming company Electronic Arts. Those investments have attracted attention alongside ongoing criticism of the country’s human rights record.
Documented concerns include capital punishment for some non-violent offences, alleged torture of prisoners, restrictions on free speech, harsh working conditions affecting migrant labourers, and anti-LGBTQ laws. Mohammed bin Salman has also been accused of ordering the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, based on reported CIA findings.
What the announcement means for arcade fans
A Dragon Ball attraction of this scale could eventually include interactive entertainment, although no arcade or gaming components have been announced. Australian collectors planning a themed games room can browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines or consider a space-saving bartop arcade.
For guidance on choosing equipment, the Arcade Machine Buying Guide covers the practical considerations behind a home setup. RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog also follows developments across the arcade industry.
For now, the French Dragon Ball Z theme park remains at the announcement stage. Its final design, attractions, construction schedule and opening date are all still to be revealed.
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