Qiddiya Investment Company is in discussions with French authorities to create a Dragon Ball-themed amusement park [1, 2].
The project represents a strategic move by the Saudi investment firm to diversify its entertainment portfolio by leveraging one of the most globally recognized manga and anime franchises [1, 2].
Reports emerged earlier this month regarding the potential development [3, 4]. While some outlets suggest the project would be the world's first Dragon Ball-themed amusement park [5], the exact nature of the project remains under negotiation.
There is significant disagreement regarding the proposed location of the park. BFMTV said the site is being considered in the Val-d’Oise department near Paris [1, 2]. However, several other outlets, including RTL, Journal du Geek, and Parismatch, place the potential project a few hours from Belgium [3, 4, 5].
This discrepancy suggests that either multiple sites are being considered or that the preliminary discussions have not yet yielded a finalized geographic agreement. The reports indicate that the Saudi firm is seeking to capitalize on the massive European fanbase of the series to drive international tourism [1, 2].
Further contradictions exist regarding the primary location of the franchise's first park. While some reports focus on the French proposal, other sources said a Dragon Ball park will open near Riyadh [5]. These conflicting reports highlight the early stage of the planning process and the possibility of multiple regional developments.
Neither the French government nor Qiddiya Investment Company has issued a formal confirmation regarding the final site or the construction timeline.
“The company is in discussions with French authorities about creating a Dragon Ball-themed amusement park.”
The proposal reflects Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to export its investment power into global entertainment hubs. By targeting the European market with a high-affinity Japanese IP, Qiddiya seeks to establish a footprint in the leisure industry outside of the Middle East. The conflicting reports on location suggest the project is currently in a speculative phase of site selection.
