Rory McIlroy began the day tied for second alongside Poulter but failed to keep up with the pace and slipped three shots adrift after managing just a solitary gain midway through his final circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Ariel Canete joined McIlroy at 15-under on Sunday, but with just three holes remaining, the Argentinean looked to have made his move too late after playing his first 15 holes in a bogey-free eight-under.
Martin Kaymer remained on course for a second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship title in three years after maintaining his one-stroke lead midway through the final round.
The 24-year-old German, who finished runner-up last year after landing his maiden title at The National Course in 2008, remained ahead of the equally impressive Ian Poulter, with the duo locked in a head-to-head battle.
Poulter started his round with a hat-trick of birdies to erase Kaymer's one-shot overnight lead as the German began with a brace of his own before edging ahead.
Kaymer, who held a six-shot final-round lead in 2008 before sealing a nervous four-stroke win, held his nerve on the ninth green to roll in a six-foot par putt to seal an outward four-under 32, after Poulter had agonisingly left a 40-foot birdie putt inches short.
On Saturday McIlroy admitted to being surprised by the high scoring this week.
He knew he would need to pull another storming final round out of the bag following low scoring final days on his final three outings last season in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Dubai which all led to top five finishes.
© UTV News