The pair finished tied on 19 under, one shot ahead of Australian Richard Green who led by one going down the 18th but dropped a shot to finish third.

Playing the 18th again, Els found the same trees that troubled Green and put his second shot into the water, ending with a bogey six to Woods' par five.

World number one Woods' victory was his first in three attempts in Dubai and his 13th individual play-off victory out of 14 on either the US or European Tour.

"I was struggling pretty bad," said Woods, who won the Buick Invitational in a play-off on his seasonal return last week.

"I figured I just had to do something to hang in there with my short game and find some sort of golf swing. It was all over the place.

"It's always special when you go head-to-head with Ernie. He played solidly all day, I was just trying to catch up.

Woods carded a final-round 69 to defending champion and three-time winner Els' 67.

Jimenez carded 69, Hansen took 71, while South Africa's Retief Goosen also faded with a 71 for 16 under.