French authorities hope a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Paris will yield an agreement to build an amusement park inspired by the manga series Dragon Ball, as the leader co-chairs the first strategic partnership council meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to local officials, the visit also centers on regional security and economic agreements, while drawing criticism from journalistic organizations over human rights concerns.
Strategic Partnership Council and Economic Agreements
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to convene the first strategic partnership council meeting on Monday. According to the French presidency, the council was agreed upon during Macron’s visit to Riyadh in December 2024. The leaders are expected to sign agreements covering health, transport, and energy sectors.
The discussions occur as regional conflicts persist, including the ongoing war with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, the visit takes place while Western and Middle Eastern leaders attempt to manage conflicts involving Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Paris and Riyadh plan to discuss energy supply security and diversification, alongside developments in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Syria.
Did You Know? Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rarely leaves Saudi Arabia except to participate in international summits, making his current visit to France his first in about a year, according to the French presidency.
Proposed Dragon Ball Amusement Park Project
Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France region encompassing Paris, stated that local authorities have worked on a major amusement park project for roughly 18 months. An upcoming meeting at the Élysée Palace could finalize the agreement for the attraction, which Pécresse described as being “the size of Disneyland” without disclosing its total cost.
An informed source told Agence France-Presse that a Saudi investment firm stands behind the project, which could be constructed in Courdimanche northwest of Paris. The park proposal coincides with broader efforts by France to expand its corporate participation in Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives, as the kingdom prepares to host major international events like Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Esports World Cup Appearance and Sports Diplomacy
The visit opened with an unconventional appearance when the Saudi Crown Prince attended the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup alongside Macron on Sunday at the Grand Palais in Paris. The tournament brought competitors in multiple video games outside Saudi Arabia for the first time since its launch, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino also in attendance.
Ahead of the ceremony, Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal and French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari signed a sports cooperation agreement, as documented by Reuters photographs. An Élysée official described the Crown Prince’s choice of France for the journey as an important signal reflecting bilateral relations.
Journalistic Opposition and Historical Context
Three French journalistic unions issued a joint statement condemning the visit, characterizing the reception of the Crown Prince in Paris as a provocation against advocates of freedom of the press and expression. The unions highlighted an ongoing French investigation into allegations of torture and enforced disappearance, opened following a 2021 legal complaint regarding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi, a United States-resident Saudi journalist critical of his country’s leadership, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, and his body was never recovered. A 2021 United States intelligence assessment concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul to capture or kill Khashoggi, though the Saudi government denied the Crown Prince ordered the killing and stated it was perpetrated by rogue individuals. An independent United Nations inquiry similarly categorized the death as an extrajudicial execution for which the state bore responsibility.
Following the 2018 incident, President Macron was among the first Western leaders to meet the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia during a December 2021 trip, preceding subsequent visits by the Saudi leader to France.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed Dragon Ball project in France?
Local authorities in the Île-de-France region are working on an investment backed by a Saudi firm to build an amusement park inspired by the Dragon Ball manga series, potentially located in Courdimanche northwest of Paris.
What topics are on the agenda for the strategic partnership council meeting?
President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are scheduled to discuss regional issues such as Iran, energy supply security, and developments in Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Syria, alongside bilateral deals in health, transport, and energy.
Why have French journalistic unions criticized the visit?
Three journalistic unions issued a joint statement calling the visit a provocation, pointing to an active French judicial investigation concerning the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
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