The World No 4 is looking to add some ranking points in Dubai and has a strong chance of going all the way.
With the majority of bigger names in action this week playing in Acapulco Dimitrov has opted for Dubai.
He comes up against Malek Jaziri in round one and his nearest challengers are likely to be Lucas Pouille and Roberto Bautista Agut.
“I want to win the tournament, but what’s most important for me is I build after every match I play and hopefully I’m able to deliver,” said Dimitrov.
“That’s very important to me in every tournament I play and this one in particular.”
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships live scores
Round One
Robin Haase (NED) beat Quentin Halys (FRA) 7-5 2-6 6-4
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) beat Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3
6-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) beat Gleb Sakharov (FRA) 6-4 6-2
3-Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) beat Florian Mayer (GER) 6-3 6-4
Benoit Paire (FRA) beat Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 5-7 6-4 6-1
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) beat Viktor Troicki (SRB) 7-5 6-2
Borna Coric (CRO) vs 5-Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs 2-Lucas Pouille (FRA)
1-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs Malek Jaziri (MOR)
Yannick Madden (GER) vs 4-Damir Dzumhur (BOS)
