Li finished on a tournament record 23-under-par 265 after a final-round three-under 69 to win by one shot over McIlroy, who also carded a 69.

The 22-year-old made a 10-foot birdie putt on the last after McIlroy had ramped up the pressure by reaching the par-5 18th hole in two shots.

Li started the day one ahead of his rival but that advantage was quickly gone on the 1st hole when he made a bogey.

However, it was a bogey on the par-5 10th by Li that led to a two-shot swing when McIlroy made a birdie, and the advantage remained with the four-time major champion when his bogey on the 11th was matched with another dropped shot by Li on the 12th.

Li celebrates his birdie and victory on the 18th green at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

But the momentum swung Li's way when he dropped a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th hole from the back fringe and McIlroy made a bogey on the 16th after hitting his three-wood off the tee into the waste area.

Both players then birdied the last two holes.

Li's second European Tour win will lift him to around 32nd in the world rankings, making him the first male Chinese player to break into the top-50.

England's Tyrrell Hatton finished third on 20-under after hitting his second shot into the water on the 18th hole, while France's Alex Levy was fourth with a 269.

Jason Scrivener was the highest finishing Australian, claiming a share of sixth. While Sam Brazel (T22), Andrew Dodt (T29), Scott Hend (T37) and Brett Rumford (T37) all featured over the weekend.