‘Dragon Ball’ theme park planned in Saudi Arabia

AWKHPH SDUN EDVHG RQ -DSDQ·V “Dragon Ball” manga franchise ZLOO EH EXLOW LQ 6DXGL $UDELD·V new high-end tourist attraction of Qiddiya just outside Riyadh, authorities said Friday. The announcement comes two weeks after fans of the massiveO\ SRSXODU DQG LQÁXHQWLDO VHULHV ZHUH shocked by news of the death of its creator Akira Toriyama, aged 68.

The 500,000-square-metre (125acre) park will allow fans to “live the adventures at the heart of the action, H[SHULHQFLQJ WKH MRXUQH\ IURP WKH ÀUVW Dragon Ball series to the latest Dragon Ball Super”, according to a press release by the Qiddiya Investment Company.

First serialised in 1984, “Dragon Ball” is one of the best-selling manga franchises of all time and has spawned FRXQWOHVV DQLPH VHULHV ÀOPV DQG YLGHR JDPHV 7RUL\DPD·V GHDWK WKLV PRQWK from a blood clot on the brain sparked an outpouring of grief from around the world, including tributes from French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.

,Q D SUHVV UHOHDVH RQ WKH RIÀFLDO Dragon Ball website, authorities in

Qiddiya did not give an opening date for the park, and also did not say how much construction would cost.

The statement said the attraction would be split into seven themed zones based on the magical dragon-containing balls that are central to the series.

The park will have at least 30 rides and include a 70-metre (230-foot) dragon at the centre of the site, it said.

The Qiddiya “entertainment city” project, featuring high-end theme parks, motorsport facilities and a safari area, is under construction near the Saudi capital Riyadh. Shares of Toei Animation, which produced the “Dragon Ball” anime series, surged 6.7 percent on Friday.—AFP