Overview
- Aaron Rai and Tommy Fleetwood finished at 25 under at Yas Links before Rai converted a birdie on the par-5 18th in sudden death.
- Rory McIlroy and Nicolai Højgaard tied for third at 24 under, with McIlroy posting a 10-under 62 that included an eagle and eight birdies.
- Rai rebounded from a short par miss at the 14th by closing with birdies at 16 and 17, then missed a winning putt on 18 before prevailing in the playoff.
- The title is Rai’s third on the DP World Tour and his first in more than five years, repeating his playoff success over Fleetwood from the 2020 Scottish Open.
- As the opening Play‑off event of the DP World Tour, Abu Dhabi’s elevated points moved Rai into the top 50 to qualify for Dubai, while McIlroy widened his Race to Dubai lead ahead of the November 13 finale.