Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

At Tokyo Game Show, two Abu Dhabi gamers find fame as Street Fighter stars

thenationalnews.com · 2hShare

A police officer once stopped Adel “Big Bird” Anouche in Japan, but not because Anouche had done anything wrong; the officer had simply recognised him. Amjad “AngryBird” Al Shalabi has become used to similar encounters. On trips to Japan, strangers have stopped him in metro stations to talk about matches he played years earlier. That recognition was apparent again at Tokyo Game Show 2026 , where the Abu Dhabi-raised Street Fighter players met fans at the booth of Abu Dhabi studio Red Dunes Games . Both compete as part of Red Dunes Esports. “We announced the meet-and-greet at the last minute, but a lot of people showed up,” Anouche says. “I was amazed to see that so many people responded in such a short time.” Al Shalabi says Japanese fans often surprise him with how closely they have followed his career. “They watch everything, they remember everything, and they treat their players as true professionals,” he says. The pair, known collectively as The Birds , developed their skills in Ab

First report: Abu Dhabi's Red Dunes Games makes a bigger play for Japan at Tokyo Game Show 2026 — thenationalnews.com, 1d