The world No 3 has previously referred to the city as like being "a second home", with McIlroy having won more of his 19 professional titles in Dubai than any other worldwide.
McIlroy opened his campaign with a tied-third finish at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, but heads to Dubai hoping to follow on from two wins in the city during 2015.
2009 Dubai Desert Classic
After almost letting a considerable lead slip during the final day, McIlroy held on to take a wire-to-wire victory and win his first professional title.
The-then 19-year-old set the early pace with an opening-round 64, before a four-under 68 maintained the Northern Irishman's one shot cushion.
That slender advantage over Louis Oosthuizen doubled on Saturday to move McIlroy two clear, before an impressive run of birdies around the turn on Sunday opened up a six-stroke cushion with six holes to play.
McIlroy then stuttered over the closing stretch, with three dropped shots in as many holes leaving the teenager just one clear of Justin Rose heading to the last, where a close-range par proved just about enough.
2012 DP World Tour Championship
With a maiden Race to Dubai title already safely secured, McIlroy broke the European Tour's season-earnings record by ending his year with another victory.
A week on from missing the cut in Hong Kong, McIlroy started strongly by adding a 67 to an opening-round 66 to share the 36-hole lead with Luke Donald and Marc Warren.
The world No 1 recovered from a first hole bogey on Saturday to card a back nine 31 and go in to Sunday alongside Donald, where McIlroy bounced back from a frustrating front nine in some style.
Justin Rose's birdie-filled 62 had bolstered his chances of spoiling McIlroy's party, but the Northern Irishman finished with five straight gains to claim a two-shot triumph and a fifth worldwide title of 2012.
2015 Dubai Desert Classic
Having finished runner-up in Abu Dhabi a fortnight earlier, McIlroy barely needed to get out of second gear during the final day to claim his first victory of the season.
The then world No 1 followed an opening round 66 with a birdie-filled 64 to take a one-shot advantage in to the weekend, but stormed clear of the rest of the field with a flying start to 'Moving Saturday'.
Five birdies from his opening eight holes moved McIlroy six clear, before he survived a back-nine stutter to stay bogey-free and take a four-stroke lead in to the final round.
McIlroy admitted to being in 'cruise control' during Sunday where he played far less aggressively than he had during the previous three rounds, completing a three-shot win with a final round 70.
2015 DP World Tour Championship
An injury-plagued season didn't prevent McIlroy continuing his fine Dubai record and ending 2015 as European No 1 for the third time in four years.
The world No 3 went in to the final event of the season just 1,618 points ahead of nearest challenger Danny Willett, but ensured he would retain his Race to Dubai crown with a narrow victory in a season-finale.
McIlroy found himself four adrift of midway pacesetter Andy Sullivan after successive 68s, but seven birdies in an 11-hole stretch around the turn booked the Northern Irishman a place in the final group to tee off on Sunday.
A topsy-turvy final day saw Sullivan briefly go three clear, before McIlroy responded with a string of birdies to move two shots clear of the Englishman.
The 'bogey of his career' at the 17th saw McIlroy recover from finding the water to drain a 30-foot putt and head to the last with a one-shot lead, where a par was enough to take the title.
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