Dakar 2010 – Sainz wins first Dakar Rally
Al-Attiyah had cut Sainz's lead to two minutes and 48 seconds after a penultimate stage that saw the two, free to race each other, collide in the heat of battle and exchange angry words.
The Qatari was again fastest in the final 206-km stage from San Rafael to Buenos Aires but could not overhaul the double rally world champion, who had accused him on Friday of not playing fair.
Sainz, who had led from stage five, won with a lead of 2:12 – equal to a mere 3.73km over 4,806km of racing.
"I won in Europe, in Spain and today in the Dakar," the Spaniard told the event's official website. "I am really happy and relieved.
"It was a tough and daily fight against my team mate. I knew it would be like that."
Al-Attiyah congratulated his team mate.
"What matters is that Volkswagen won," he said, "He did his job, I tried to do mine. Next year I'll win."
France's Guerlain Chicherit was third in a BMW while NASCAR driver Robby Gordon of the United States was eighth.