Macron Courts Saudi Funding for Dragon Ball Theme Park

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office is in talks with Saudi investors about turning the abandoned Mirapolis amusement park near Paris into a theme park based on the popular Japanese manga series Dragon Ball, Politico reported. Several people involved in the discussions said the investment could exceed €1bn ($1.14bn).

Qiddiya Investment Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is at the center of the negotiations. The project forms part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to reduce the kingdom’s dependence on oil by investing in tourism and entertainment.

Citing diplomatic, government and industry sources, Politico reported that the Élysée Palace had been holding talks with potential investors for several months. At the Choose France investment summit in May, organizers announced a memorandum of understanding to explore a major tourism and entertainment project in France.

According to an agenda seen by Politico, officials from the Île-de-France region met representatives of 10 ministries, electricity grid operator RTE and public transport operator Île-de-France Mobilités in late July. They discussed the project’s governance, transport infrastructure, energy requirements and land acquisition.

Neither the Élysée Palace nor Qiddiya responded to Politico’s requests for comment.

Mirapolis opened in 1987 but closed permanently in 1991 after five seasons amid financial difficulties and the impending arrival of Euro Disney.

(lud)