Three theme parks will be built near Paris as part of a €6bn (£5.13bn) deal agreed between France and Saudi Arabia.

The new development is expected to include a manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move as on a scale not seen “since Disneyland Paris”, and added “you know my interest for manga”.

An opening date for the parks – which will be built near Cergy-Pontoise – has not set by the Élysée Palace, but they will open in stages and construction is expected to take years.

The project was given the green light during a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It stemmed from a previous discussion between Macron and bin Salman about their shared passion for Japanese comics, “in particular Dragon Ball Z,” advisers to the president told reporters on Monday.