The traditional way of life for groups like the Bedouin of the Sahara and Arabian deserts often involved nomadic pastoralism. This involves moving with camels and goats to find fresh pasture. The low rainfall does not allow settled farming. Other desert dwellers would live at sources of permanent water.

As in the Arctic lands this way of life is being followed by less people as many leave to live in cities. The exploitation of minerals such as oil and iron ore provides jobs and money in hot deserts such as Arabian and Australian, respectively. Another new development are desalination plants that provide usable water by taking salt out of seawater.