A front nine of 38 scuppered Rory McIlroy's chances of victory on Sunday at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, although he did come home in 33 to slip in behind Siem at 14-under - level with Soren Kjeldsen (67), George Coetzee (70) and Scott Jamieson(71).
But it was Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello who claimed victory after both Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher squandered last-gasp opportunities to force a play-off.
Cabrera-Bello, whose only other European Tour victory came at the 2009 Austrian Open, took a one-shot victory after a final round of 68, making three crucial birdies on the back nine as he set a target of 18-under that Westwood and Gallacher - playing behind him in the final group of the day - were unable to match.
Needing birdies at the last to draw level with Cabrera-Bello and get into a play-off, Westwood managed to get greenside in two at the par-five, while Gallacher left himself with a ten-footer for the four he needed. Westwood effectively blew his chance with a woeful chip that left him a 30-footer for his birdie, and after both men slid their decisive putts wide Cabrera-Bello had his chance to celebrate.
"It's an unbelievable win for me, it's been a really, really special week," Cabrera-Bello said. "Today, with so many big names up there, I felt really proud of myself. I really wanted to fight and I did everything you should do in these situations. I played great, and I was really, really lucky that I ended up winning."
The finish was especially disappointing for Westwood, who had numerous birdie opportunities throughout the back nine but was unable to find the cup with one of his putts - not the first time such a weakness has cost him at crunch-time.
Cabrera-Bello, meanwhile, had an assured day - despite never matching the heroics of the opening round of 63 that saw him build the foundation for victory. He chipped to four feet to make birdie at the short second (his only birdie of the front nine), and on the back nine picked up shots where he needed to - with a fantastic approach at the 17th enabling him to roll in a ten-footer that put him one clear of the chasing pack.
Birdie at the treacherous 18th would have effectively sealed matters, but in the end the Spaniard was left with a nervy three-footer for his par - one he would nevertheless roll in for a round that would subsequently prove good enough for the biggest win, and pay cheque, of his career.
Gallacher, meanwhile, was on the fringes of the action for much of the day - before a long putt for eagle at the par-five 13th gave him a share of the lead. The momentum appeared to be with the Scot at that point, but he was unable to find the elusive shot he needed as he closed with five straight pars.
Marcel Siem finished fourth on his own after a final round 71, following an eventful day in which the volatile German tried but failed to get anything going. He fared better than the big names in the chasing pack, however, as both Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy faded quickly from the fray.
A front nine of 38 scuppered McIlroy's chances of victory, although he did come home in 33 to slip in behind Siem at 14-under - level with the likes of Soren Kjeldsen (67), George Coetzee (70) and Scott Jamieson(71).
Kaymer, in contrast, handled the front nine with minimal fuss but fell apart over the closing holes - with a six at the par-five 10th being followed by a double-bogey at the par-three 15th, as he ended up shooting 74 to finish 11-under alongside former Open champion Ben Curtis and Argentinian Tano Goya.
Ahead of that trio, Thomas Bjorn completed the top ten as he finished 13-under alongside Nicolas Colsaerts and Joel Sjoholm. Frenchman Romain Wattel was on his own at 12-under.
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