Abu Dhabi's Street Fighter Stars 'Big Bird' and 'AngryBird' Find Star Treatment at Tokyo Game Show 2026

A police officer once stopped Adel “Big Bird” Anouche in Japan, but not for doing anything wrong; the officer simply recognized him. Amjad “AngryBird” Al Shalabi has experienced similar encounters, with strangers stopping him in metro stations to discuss matches he played years ago. This level of recognition was on full display again at the Tokyo Game Show 2026, where the Abu Dhabi-raised Street Fighter players connected with fans at the booth of Abu Dhabi studio Red Dunes Games.

Both athletes 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 notes that Japanese fans frequently surprise him with their deep knowledge of his career. “They watch everything, they remember everything, and they treat their players as true professionals,” he says.

Known collectively as The Birds, the duo developed their competitive skills in Abu Dhabi before making their mark on the international fighting game circuit. Their 2026 seasons, however, followed different paths. Anouche entered the Capcom Cup with high hopes of winning, successfully qualifying from his group in first place before facing Japanese veteran Fuudo in the top 16. The matchup proved challenging, with Anouche noting that Fuudo's character choice placed him at a disadvantage.

Following tough outings at Evo Japan and the Esports World Cup, Anouche regained his form at the Ultimate Fighting Arena in France, reaching the top eight and helping Red Dunes Esports secure a second-place finish in the SFL to qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Al Shalabi's year involved a different kind of recovery. Personal matters limited his competition schedule earlier in the year before he traveled back to Japan to rebuild his form. “I knew that one trip to Japan would be enough to get back my confidence and get back my level in the game,” he explains, noting that he played against more than 100 opponents and trained for over nine hours a day.

Red Dunes Esports ultimately finished second in SFL EMEA 2026 to secure a playoff spot, and Al Shalabi finished in the top three at the Ultimate Fighting Arena in France. Both players agree that the overall standard of competition has risen significantly compared to the Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V eras. Anouche points out that players now face tough matches long before reaching the later tournament stages, requiring them to battle through mid-level, high-level, and top-tier opponents alike.

Regarding the Middle East, Anouche observes growing interest in esports in Saudi Arabia, partly driven by the Esports World Cup, while Al Shalabi maintains a more cautious outlook on the UAE fighting game community. Looking ahead, Red Dunes Games used its presence at the Tokyo Game Show 2026 to highlight its broader esports ambitions and support the next generation of players who are entering a vastly different environment than the one The Birds faced when they began their journeys.