This congress is an interdisciplinary scientific research platform on the desert, arid lands, and the Sahara (hot drylands, hyperarid or semi-arid regions, oasis and remote rural areas) economy, management, and development, in order to contribute effectively to the good governance and in the sustainable development of arid lands worldwide, by stimulating meetings between all stakeholders on a global scale, with a view to fostering dialog, partnership, and cooperation among desert countries worldwide: Africa and the Gulf States (the MENA and the Sahel...), the United States of America, Australia, China, India, South America..., and creating a conducive environment to the exchange of experiences, expertise, trainings, educational practices and innovation, around themes related to the desert economy and to the arid lands management.