Deserts face increasing pressure from development.

Large-scale means that desert areas can be farmed. Crops such as dates, figs and fruit are commonly grown in deserts. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) lies in the Arabian desert. The country about 80 % of its food and is experimenting with ways to grow crops in the desert to produce more of its own food.

The clear skies and high levels of in deserts are ideal for generating electricity. The Noor solar plant in Morocco is the world’s largest .

Large oil and gas reserves are often found in desert regions. For example, Saudi Arabia has the second largest proven oil reserves and Qatar has the third largest proven gas reserves. Both countries lie within the Arabian desert.

Water supplies can be diverted to allow cities to grow within deserts. For example, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt is famous for its water sports and scuba diving. However, due to a lack of fresh water in the area, two government owned companies are operating which require a vast amount of energy to be used. The area relies on tourism and therefore requires water for swimming pools and hotels. The city has a plan to become pollution-free by 2045 under the UN Habitat program.

Many desert countries are now using the landscape to generate income from tourists. Activities include camel rides, trips and . Despite its location in the desert, the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has many attractions. These include an aquarium, an indoor ski slope and a water park.