Overnight leader Matthew Fitzpatrick was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Thomas Detry at the turn of the second round after a birdie-blitz by the Belgian at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Fitzpatrick made eight birdies - including six on the back nine - and a single bogey in trickier afternoon conditions on Thursday to sign for a 65 to take a one-shot lead over a large group at six-under-par which included the likes of Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau.
The Englishman was one of the early starters on Friday and took advantage of the pleasant morning conditions to record birdies at 13th, 16th and 18th after starting the second round on the back nine to reach ten-under-par.
However, he was not alone at the top as Detry turned in for 31 after his first nine holes, picking up shots at the 10th, 11th and 13th before recording three successive birdies from the 15th to storm into contention.
Callum Shinkwin and Romain Langasque were both one shot off the overnight lead and remained at the same pace after 16 and eight holes respectively.
Englishman Shinkwin rolled in five birdies and two bogeys, while Frenchman Langasque picked up gains at the 10th, 16th and 17th to sit on nine under.
Spaniard duo Alvaro Quiros and Jorge Campillo were a shot further adrift after 15 and 14 holes respectively of their second round.
Quiros opened with a bogey at the first, but hit back with six gains to move to eight under, while Campillo reached the turn in 32 - picking up five birdies - before dropping his first shot of the tournament at the fourth after starting on the back nine.
Swede Alexander Björk and Jordan Smith were at eight under with fellow Englishman Aaron Rai one stroke further back.
