Federer was coolly efficient on a hot day in the desert Saturday, firing seven aces and connecting on 72 percent of his first serves in the match that lasted barely an hour.
Novak Djokovic played American John Isner in the other semifinal later.
No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska will play Flavia Pennetta in the women's final Sunday.
Federer never faced a break point on his serve while breaking Dolgopolov four times, including a seven-deuce game to go up 4-1 in the second set. Dolgopolov had a chance to win that game four times, but each time his unforced error brought it back to deuce.
