Macron and MBS Deepen Franco-Saudi Ties Amid Controversy

Saudi Arabia is set to invest €6 billion in the construction of three theme parks in Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris, according to an announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron. The development will be located on the site of the former Mirapolis theme park and is expected to include a manga-themed attraction. The project is being led by Qiddiya, a Saudi investment and entertainment company. Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly finalised the agreement during the crown prince’s official visit to Paris. Their discussions also covered major economic and strategic issues, along with regional matters. Macron described the investment as an “extraordinary announcement” and said the parks would create approximately 22,000 jobs and establish a “new global destination.” He compared the scale of the project with the development of Disneyland Paris. The announcement was welcomed by Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France regional council. She said the region had supported the project for the previous 18 months and expressed her satisfaction with the planned investment. In an interview with French broadcaster TF1, Pécresse highlighted France’s position as the world’s leading tourist destination and said the region needed both the jobs and investment associated with the development. The project represents a significant Saudi investment in France’s tourism and entertainment sectors. While the article provides details about the location, scale, expected employment and proposed manga attraction, it does not give a construction timetable or further information about the parks’ designs.

The France 24 segment examines French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Paris, framing the visit as a test of whether Western governments prioritize economic and strategic interests over their stated political and human-rights values. The discussion is presented by Jean-Emile Jammine, who welcomes Susanne Koelbl, an award-winning foreign correspondent for the German magazine Der Spiegel. According to Koelbl, Macron’s decision reflects “realpolitik in its purest form.” She argues that Saudi Arabia has become too important to remain permanently isolated because of its role in energy, regional security, investment and diplomacy in the Middle East. The visit therefore illustrates France’s attempt to balance principles with practical geopolitical considerations and to position itself as an independent power connecting the Mediterranean and the Gulf. The supplied extract does not include the full interview or the broader arguments developed in the programme. It does, however, establish the central tension: Mohammed bin Salman’s controversial international reputation and the West’s professed values are being weighed against Saudi Arabia’s growing economic and strategic importance. The accompanying France 24 material indicates that the talks involved Saudi investment, Middle Eastern affairs, diplomacy and even esports, suggesting that the relationship extends beyond a single political meeting. Overall, the excerpt presents the Paris visit as an example of contemporary international realpolitik. Rather than offering a definitive judgment on whether France or the wider West has abandoned its values, it introduces the debate over how governments reconcile ethical criticism with energy needs, regional security, investment opportunities and diplomatic influence. The available content is an incomplete extract, and the original page is marked as unavailable in the supplied material.

France and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding covering a €6 billion Saudi investment in three theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometres northwest of Paris. The project will be led by Qiddiya, a company owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and is expected to create approximately 22,000 direct jobs. Construction will take place in stages over several years, although no opening date has been announced. One of the parks is expected to have a manga theme, reportedly reflecting a shared interest in manga and Dragon Ball Z held by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The themes of the other two parks have not yet been revealed. Macron described the investment as an “unprecedented announcement” that would create a new global destination. The agreement was announced during Mohammed bin Salman’s two-day visit to France, which Paris presented as evidence of the strength and dynamism of Franco-Saudi relations. The visit also involved discussions on bilateral agreements and the wider Middle East crisis. The investment has drawn criticism because of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the crown prince’s alleged role in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Three French journalists’ unions condemned the visit, calling it a provocation to defenders of media freedom and freedom of expression. US intelligence agencies and a UN investigation have linked Mohammed bin Salman to the killing, while France continues to investigate allegations of torture and forced disappearance connected to the case. Macron’s office defended its engagement with Riyadh, saying France does not seek to lecture countries when attracting investment. The article also notes Saudi Arabia’s plans to host Expo 2030 and the 2034 football World Cup, as well as its interest in developments involving Iran and the broader Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to France for a two-day visit combining high-profile cultural and sporting diplomacy with discussions on bilateral cooperation and Middle Eastern security. Macron hosted the Saudi leader at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris on Sunday evening, presenting the visit initially as a lighter, public-facing event rather than a formal political meeting. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended, and Macron spoke with leading gamers and handed out trophies. The Esports World Cup, which features major competitions in video games and chess, has received strong backing from Riyadh. Its staging in Paris marked the first time the event had been held outside Saudi Arabia, highlighting the growing cultural and economic links between France and the kingdom. The more substantive part of the visit was scheduled for Monday. A French presidential official said the two countries would sign several agreements covering health, transport and energy. Discussions were also expected to address the broader situation in the Middle East, particularly Iran. The article does not provide details about the agreements or the specific issues involving Iran that would be raised. Paris also appeared keen to underscore the significance of Mohammed bin Salman’s trip. French officials noted that the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, rarely travels outside the kingdom except to attend international summits. His visit to France was described as his first such trip in almost a year. Overall, the article presents the visit as an effort to combine diplomatic engagement, commercial cooperation and soft-power symbolism, using the esports event to frame the relationship in a modern and less formal context while reserving the following day for political and economic negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman in Paris for a two-day visit combining public diplomacy, economic cooperation and discussions on Middle East security. The visit began with Macron and Mohammed bin Salman attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais. The event, backed by Riyadh and held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, featured leading gamers, chess competitors and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Macron’s government presented the visit as evidence of the strength and dynamism of Franco-Saudi ties, noting that the crown prince rarely travels outside Saudi Arabia except for international summits. The second day was expected to focus on bilateral agreements in health, transport and energy, as well as regional issues including Iran. Macron and the crown prince were scheduled to chair the first meeting of the Saudi-French strategic partnership council, intended to improve coordination on stability and peace in the Middle East. France is also interested in Saudi-backed investment and major future events, including a proposed Dragons Ball theme park near Paris, Expo 2030 and the 2034 football World Cup. The visit was controversial because of Mohammed bin Salman’s alleged role in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Three French journalists’ unions protested, citing an ongoing French investigation into torture and forced disappearance stemming from a 2021 complaint. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and his remains have never been recovered. US intelligence assessed that Mohammed bin Salman was directly involved, while a UN investigation called the killing an extrajudicial execution for which Saudi Arabia was responsible. The unions described Macron’s hosting of the crown prince as a provocation to defenders of media freedom. Despite the criticism, Macron has continued engaging with Mohammed bin Salman, having been among the first Western leaders to meet him after the Khashoggi killing in 2021.