Youssef Hanawi, widely known as Abu Omar (or Bo3omar22), built his name in Saudi Arabia's digital culture by doing something many people say they want to do, but few can sustain: showing up as himself, every time. No forced persona. No heavy performance. Just a creator who lives the moment, then invites the audience into it. You feel that closeness in his videos. He isn’t trying to win the camera. He’s trying to share the experience. The guiding idea is simple: “I want you to enjoy it with me.”
And that simplicity became a strategy, one that later grew beyond content into entrepreneurship.
FIFA Was the Door, Consistency Was the Key
Abu Omar’s story starts where many Saudi creators began: gaming, community chats, and a love for competition. FIFA wasn’t just a game for him. It was a language. It was a daily habit. It was the easiest way to connect with people. Early on, the setup was basic. The approach was basic too. Honest gameplay. Real reactions. A tone that felt like a friend sitting next to you, not a creator speaking down to you. That is why the identity stuck.
“I’m the FIFA guy.”
For Abu Omar, the FIFA audience was never “numbers.” It was a community, one he kept respecting by staying consistent, even as his life changed.
Studying Abroad With YouTube in the Background
While his channel was taking shape, Youssef was also building himself away from home. He studied abroad on scholarship in Tourism and Hospitality (Bachelor’s degree). He lived in Toronto from 2016 to 2018, then later continued his studies in the United States, in Providence, Rhode Island. That period shaped his rhythm. It was quieter. More routine. More home-centered. Study, content, repeat.
And sometimes, that’s the real secret behind growth: not excitement, but structure. When the days are calm, the output becomes consistent. When the output becomes consistent, the audience learns to trust you.
The YouTube Start: FIFA 17 and a Clear Early Identity
Abu Omar’s true YouTube starting point is tied strongly to FIFA 17. This is where his name started to spread. He recorded because he enjoyed the game, nothing more complicated than that. He became known as:
“I’m a FIFA guy.”
And his audience could tell it was real. His content felt simple, funny, and close. Over time, his consistency created growth, and his connection with FIFA fans became a core part of his identity.
The Team Era and the First Real Test
Back in Saudi Arabia, Abu Omar entered a team environment and became part of Team MG, alongside names like Mosaad Al-Dosari, Khaled Al-Oufi, and Sahs. On paper, it made sense: an esports-focused group, shared energy, shared growth. In reality, the challenge was logistical. The members lived in different cities. Consistent group filming wasn’t easy. Content often became individual again, until events brought them together.
That chapter is important because it shows a maturity many creators skip: learning the difference between a good idea and a repeatable system. And even when activity slowed, it didn’t end the story. It prepared him for the restart.
The Pivot: Mosaad’s Return the Falcons Rise
The next shift came when Mosaad Al-Dosari returned with renewed direction. Abu Omar joined that wave along with Abu Abeer and Abu Naif, and the momentum finally had one missing ingredient: proximity. When Gamers Season arrived and creators gathered in Riyadh, consistency became easier. Collaboration became natural. The camera had more energy because real life had more energy.
From that moment, Team Falcons took shape. Esports at the base, but content and culture as the engine. Joining Falcons became a turning point for Abu Omar: more reach, a more professional environment, and a stronger media ecosystem around his work.
What His Content Feels Like Today
Today, Abu Omar still carries FIFA in his DNA, but his channel reflects something bigger: a lifestyle storyteller who keeps the camera honest. His content mix includes:
- Travel and city experiences
- Food exploration
- Cooking experiments
- Gaming (with FIFA as the anchor)
- Daily-life entertainment
His style is built on one clear idea:
“I want you to enjoy it with me.”
He documents experiences without forcing them. He shares reactions without over-editing them. And he keeps his tone friendly, like the viewer is sitting with him, not watching from far away. That feeling is why people stay.
His Content Pillars
Across the years, his work naturally organized into recognizable pillars:
- FIFA Series
The foundation of his name. Challenges, high interaction, and a casual tone that feels effortless. - Variety Gaming
Games played for enjoyment, not just competition. The goal stays the same: entertainment through experience. - Travel & Experiences
Cities, places, moments, and food captured simply so the viewer feels present. - Food & Cooking
More visible after 2020, evolving into a consistent pillar rather than “side content.” - Group Content with Falcons
Not one format, more like an energy. Collaborative challenges and shared storytelling that helped expand audience reach.
Cooking Passion: From Loving Food to Respecting the Craft
Abu Omar’s cooking story feels relatable because it’s not framed as talent, it’s framed as curiosity. In 2019, he didn’t really know how to cook. But he loved food and noticed flavor. Then he started exploring the craft seriously, and by 2020, cooking began to show up as content. His first cooking video came in 2021, right after returning to Saudi Arabia.
And the first dish? Indomie with peanut butter. Simple. Experimental. Honest. Exactly his brand.
Turning Audience Trust Into Product Trust with Togarashi
The big leap was Togarashi, his move into entrepreneurship and a real-world brand. Togarashi is inspired by Japanese cuisine, with strong attention to flavor, quality, and presentation. Before opening, he traveled to Japan to understand what he wanted to deliver back home. During that journey, he met a restaurant owner named Mohammed who ran a Katsu Curry concept. Abu Omar kept returning, learning, and asking questions. When Mohammed saw the seriousness, he shared guidance that helped shape the business direction.
Togarashi’s growth, as you described it, followed a clear path:
- A branch in Jeddah
- Expansion with a cloud kitchen in Riyadh (Al-Wadi)
- Later, a branch in Boulevard
What makes this story strong is the mindset behind it: the success wasn’t treated as “creator fame.” It was treated as product work: improving quality, listening to customers, and developing the experience step by step.
Legacy & Next Steps
Abu Omar’s story is proudly Saudi. Not because it’s loud. But because it’s real. Today, he represents a new creator model. One that fits Vision 2030 perfectly: talent, discipline, and expansion. He entertains. He documents life. He builds businesses. He proves that Saudi Arabia's creators don’t only go viral, they grow, evolve, and create value.
This is the legacy: a Saudi who started with a controller, then turned curiosity into a career, and turned a career into a real brand, without losing himself. And the next steps feel even bigger. More stories. More experiences. More projects that carry Saudi taste, Saudi ambition, and Saudi confidence out to the world.
Watch Abu Omar’s journey unfold on X, Youtube, Snapchat and Instagram.
