France and Saudi Arabia Sign Major Investment Deals in Paris
France and Saudi Arabia signed agreements in Paris, including €6bn investment in theme parks and talks on Hormuz alternatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversaw the signing of several bilateral agreements at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday, marking the second day of the Crown Prince's official visit to France.
The most prominent deal involves Saudi investment in three new amusement parks in the Paris region, including a large manga-themed park in Cergy, north of the capital. According to an official from Macron's office, the projects are valued at approximately €6 billion (around $7 billion) and are expected to generate about 22,000 direct jobs. The same official compared the scale of the initiative to Disneyland Paris, which employs roughly 20,000 people.
Beyond the entertainment sector, the two leaders were also expected to discuss strategies for developing alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Officials from the French presidency, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that proposals include boosting trade through Omani ports outside the Persian Gulf, expanding or doubling pipelines in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and building new rail links.
The agreements were signed during Mohammed bin Salman's two-day trip, underscoring the strengthening economic and strategic ties between France and Saudi Arabia.