Steve Davies and Stuart Broad shared a resolute seventh-wicket stand of 61 to help an unimpressive England win the three-day tour opener against ICC Combined XI by three wickets.
England needed 261 to win in their second innings with Davies (37 not out) and Broad (31) guiding the tourists to victory.
Captain Andrew Strauss (78) led the way for England on the final day at Dubai's Global Cricket Academy ground.
Kevin Pietersen (one) and Eoin Morgan (three) flopped for a second time in the match and when Ian Bell departed at 199 for 6, England looked in trouble before Davies and Broad came together.
Despite the win, England's batting looked rusty ahead of the first of three Tests against Pakistan which starts on January the 17th.
England will have another opportunity to settle their batting on the slow, dusty pitches as they play the second warm-up game against a Pakistan Cricket Board XI, also in Dubai, from January the 11th.
