He's averaging more than 80 at the World Cup with the bat and less than 20 with the ball - admittedly he hasn't bowled a lot - but it's hard to keep him out of the game.
Bear in mind his gentle medium-pacers are rarely spotted as he also has the ability to wicket-keep, which he did in the earlier stages of his one-day international career.
When he was caught at short third man tonight he became only the third player to be dismissed for 99 at a World Cup, after Adam Gilchrist and JP Duminy; it was also the 27th instance of someone scoring that figure in a one-day international.
The runs de Villiers provided were the backbone of his side's 341-6 from their 50 overs after they lost the toss and were invited to bat first by the struggling UAE.
There were other contributions along the way - namely a rapid, unbeaten 64 from all-rounder Farhaan Behardien - but it was de Villiers who stood out.
In pursuit of their second mammoth target in eight days, the UAE showed little interest in making a game of it as they appeared more content to soak up the overs.
South Africa only needed to take nine wickets as UAE seamer Fahad Alhashmi didn't bat due to injury and they eventually succumbed for 195 in the 48th over.
The loss was the UAE's fifth from as many games at the World Cup and tonight's game had a similar feel to their defeat against Pakistan last Wednesday.
That night they needed to make 340 to claim an unlikely win but they posted 210/8 from their 50 overs. It was close to boring.
UAE skipper Mohammad Tauqir attempted to defend their approach after the loss to Pakistan by saying they didn't want to suffer a heavy defeat.
"In pursuit of 350 we didn't want to get out in 30 overs and make a mockery of ourselves.
Plan was to keep wickets in hand, build a partnership and in last 10-15 overs we need to attack. Unfortunately [we lost] a few early wickets so we need to slow down and build partnerships."
But one could argue the UAE have equally made a mockery of themselves by simply batting for time and delaying an inevitable result.
Either way, South Africa, who were upset by Pakistan last Saturday, will be pleased to book the competition points and they have all but secured second place in Pool B behind India.
The Proteas seem destined to meet Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals next week in what looms as a meeting of two powerful batting line-ups.
Sri Lanka boast the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene, while South Africa have Hashim Amla and that man AB de Villiers.
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