McIlroy hits 'scrappy' two-under first round on Dubai return
The Northern Irishman won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November for his third successive Race to Dubai title.
And making his first start in two months, the 30-year-old fired four birdies for two bogeys at Emirates Golf Club.
"Yeah, pretty scrappy," McIlroy said.
"Actually I felt I played probably better the first eight holes where I was one over compared to the last 10 where I was three under.
"It was a bit scrappy. First competitive round of the year. First competitive round in a while. Definitely not as comfortable as I was in practice and coming in here.
"But it's nice to get a card in your hand. I got it around and got it in in a couple under, which is nice, and didn't put myself out of the tournament, which is the main thing."
McIlroy is aiming for his third successive Dubai Desert Classic win, and fifth overall.