With riders completing 20 laps of the virtually deserted Yas Marina Formula 1 track - each lap being 5.5km - it was Chaves's race to lose and the Colombian finished in touch with rival Fabio Aru to claim the title.
Three riders, Eduard Vorganov (Katusha), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-Quick Step) went out in the day's breakaway, but with few obstacles separating them from the chase group their move was doomed from the start.
Orica-GreenEdge worked hard on the front for most of the stage to keep Chaves in contention, but Astana were also present - looking to set Andrea Guardini up for his second win of the week.
Esteban Chaves kept hold of his leader's jersey on the stage (Watson)
(Image credit: Watson)
Will Clarke (Drapac) and Francisco Manchebo Perez (Skydive Dubai) tried their luck out the front in the penultimate lap but the marauding peloton, led by Team Wiggins, wouldn't let them get away easily, catching them shortly after the bell for the final lap.
Team Sky took up the work as the peloton entered the final kilometre, but with a wide road and sweeping corners it was tough to keep an advantage.
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With a teammate remaining in the final 500m, Sagan looked favourite to take the win, but the world champion chose to take Viviani's wheel in the sprint and could not overcome the Italian.
It's the second time in three stages that Viviani has out-sprinted the Slovak, with the same result coming on Friday's stage two.
Elia Viviani pips Peter Sagan to the line on stage four of the Abu Dhabi Tour (Watson)
(Image credit: Watson)
Abu Dhabi Tour stage four: Yas Marina Circuit (110km)
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, 2-22-43
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
3. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana, st
4. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC, st
5. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare, st
6. Luka Mezgec (Cze) Giant-Alpecin, st
7. Andrea Palini (Ita) Skydive Dubai, st
8. Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, st
9. Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Etixx-Quick Step
10. JJ Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
Abu Dhabi Tour general classification
1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge,
2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 16s
3. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 27s
4. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), at 41s
5. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, at 41s
6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step, at 1-23
7. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-29
8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 1-29
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 1-29
10. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Argon 18, at 1-40
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
