A new theme park dedicated to Dragon Ball is set to join the most intriguing projects in the Paris region, even as its announcement has already sparked debate in France. The initiative, funded by Saudi Arabia, aims to transform the Cergy-Pontoise area into a new major destination for international entertainment. A choice that has raised some doubts among those who would have preferred to better showcase French culture and creativity, but which also promises significant economic and employment benefits.
The project stems from an agreement between France and Saudi Arabia and calls for the creation of three amusement parks on the outskirts of Paris. One will be dedicated to the universe created by Akira Toriyama, turning the world of Goku and his companions into a truly immersive experience.
The Dragon Ball park will rise on the former Mirapolis site
The future park themed around Dragon Ball will be built in Cergy-Pontoise, in the Val d’Oise, northwest of Paris, on the site that once hosted Mirapolis. The amusement park opened in 1987 had a brief life and closed definitively a few years later, leaving the site unused.
Right here a new major entertainment destination is expected to emerge, integrated into a complex formed by three parks. The project thus represents a kind of rebirth for a place that in the past had already tried to establish itself in the theme park sector.
At the heart of the new project will be Dragon Ball, the famous manga universe created by Akira Toriyama, capable of winning generations of fans around the world. For now, however, not all details about the attractions and themed areas have been disclosed, nor has an official opening date been set. Construction is expected to take several years.
The idea also stems from a curious shared passion: French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman have indeed expressed interest in the world of manga, and in particular Dragon Ball. A link that helped shape a project aimed at bringing one of the symbols of Japanese pop culture to the doorstep of the French capital.
A 6-billion-euro investment
The Dragon Ball park will be only part of a much larger operation. France and Saudi Arabia have envisioned an overall investment of around 6 billion euros for the realization of the three parks, financed by the Saudi group Qiddiya.
The economic scale of the project is substantial and, according to estimates announced by the Élysée, the entire complex could generate around 22,000 jobs. The aim is to create a new international destination capable of standing alongside the region’s already established attractions, starting with Disneyland Paris.
The initiative also fits into Saudi Arabia’s strategy of investing more and more in the sectors of tourism, entertainment, and leisure, reducing gradually the dependence on the oil economy.
The magnitude of the operation has sparked debate in France. Some commentators have noted that the arrival of large foreign investments in the amusement park sector could bolster the image of a France increasingly oriented toward tourism and entertainment. Others have emphasized the economic and employment opportunities linked to the project.
For the moment, therefore, Goku does not yet have a set opening date for the gates to Paris, but the project has already captivated the interest of Dragon Ball fans and the world of theme parks.
