Qiddiya Investment Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French government to explore the development of a massive, mixed-use entertainment destination near the capital, Paris, on the sidelines of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s official visit to France.

According to official announcements, the investment cost of the project will be approximately €6 billion (equivalent to $7 billion), and its design will be inspired by the world-famous animated universe of "Dragon Ball Z".

The project is expected to be developed near the Cergy-Pontoise area northwest of Paris, expanding the Saudi brand’s global reach and reinforcing its philosophy centered on the "power of play".

QIDDIA


Students from Al Yamamah University discussed the strategic and economic dimensions of this investment expansion, as follows:
Exporting entertainment experiences and leveraging intellectual property to reduce risks

Student Jumana Al-Shehri @Jumana Alshehri explained her perspective, saying: "I think Qiddiya’s expansion into France is an important step because it demonstrates the transition of Saudi companies from attracting global experiences to offering and developing experiences in markets outside the Kingdom. This could strengthen the global presence of Saudi brands and companies.

If the project becomes an actual investment and generates returns, it could help diversify sources of income and support the Saudi economy.

The project’s connection to the world of Dragon Ball Z also gives it a strong advantage because of the franchise’s fame and large fan base. This could help attract visitors and reduce the marketing risks of launching a new entertainment project.

Overall, I believe the project represents an opportunity for Qiddiya to test its ability to compete globally and expand its entertainment model beyond the Kingdom."

Transferring Saudi expertise and growing revenues through global expansion

Student Mohammad Alghaihab @Mohammad Alghaihab shared his view, explaining: "In my opinion, Qiddiya’s expansion beyond the Kingdom is an important step toward transferring Saudi expertise in the entertainment sector to global markets, especially since the project’s local success could be transformed into a model that can be scaled globally.

The presence of an entertainment destination linked to a global brand such as Dragon Ball could also provide the project with a ready-made audience and enhance its appeal to visitors. More importantly, there is the investment aspect: international expansion does not affect only the project’s revenues; it could also enhance the global presence of Saudi companies and open up new sources of income for them, supporting economic diversification and reflecting the development of Saudi entertainment from a consumer of global experiences into a developer and exporter of them."

Capital allocation efficiency and balancing expansion with local priorities

Student Ghadah Alwallan @Ghadah Alwallan noted: "I believe Qiddiya’s international expansion is important to consider from the perspective of capital allocation, especially since Qiddiya City in the Kingdom remains the company’s core project and requires substantial investment.

Therefore, the success of the expansion in France depends not only on the project’s size or fame, but also on the company’s ability to achieve a viable return on its international investment without compromising its priorities and core projects within the Kingdom."

Building international expertise in new markets as a competitive advantage for the future

Student Rimas Almashali @Rimas Almashali added: "I think the project could give Qiddiya an opportunity to build international expertise that goes beyond the direct financial return, particularly through operating in a market that differs in terms of regulations, consumer behavior, and competition.

If the experience succeeds, this expertise could become an advantage that helps the company expand into other markets in the future, rather than the project being merely a single investment outside the Kingdom."

Operational maturity reflected in national output and reduced marketing costs

Student Fay Aldossari @Fay Aldossari concluded the analytical review by saying: "In my opinion, the Kingdom’s transition from attracting experiences to leading them reflects the arrival of Saudi companies at a stage of operational maturity. The name "Qiddiya" is evolving from that of a local destination into that of a global entertainment developer that strengthens confidence in Saudi brands.

Economic impact: Profits from the international project will have a positive effect on the Kingdom’s gross national product (GNP) and open opportunities for Saudi companies and Saudi supply chains to participate globally.

Leveraging "Dragon Ball Z": Relying on highly popular intellectual property (IP) ensures a pre-existing flow of visitors, reduces investment risks, and lowers marketing costs>."

Diversifying sources of income and supporting national output

In an analytical review of the company’s performance, financial and economic analyst "Hamad Al-Saeed" @Hamad Alsaeed explains: The Saudi-French agreement to create three entertainment cities near Paris, with an investment of up to €6 billion, goes beyond being a commercial deal; it represents a strategic shift that reflects a reversal of the usual direction of investment flows. Through Qiddiya, a company affiliated with the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom is moving from importing entertainment experiences to exporting its model to the heart of Europe, achieving an international extension of the objectives of Vision 2030.

Economically, the move represents the recycling of financial surpluses into income-generating European assets denominated in foreign currency, reducing dependence on oil. This will contribute to and strengthen the Kingdom’s gross national product—amounting to approximately SAR 5.001 trillion—through sustainable overseas investment returns that support the resilience of the national economy.

The deeper dimension is reflected in soft power: financing globally popular content such as "Dragon Ball" in the European market reinforces the Kingdom’s image as a creator and leader of the culture and entertainment sector worldwide, in harmony with its growing presence in the international gaming and esports industries.