Landsat MSS digital data provide an important means for the study of sand dune morphology and distribution, land cover change and desertification monitoring. Two images, one each of Landsat-l and Landsat-5 MSS were used to determine sand dunes, their change and desertification by human activities from 1973 to 1986. Five dune classes were observed: parabolic, barchan, longitudinal, transverse and sand sheet. Parabolic dunes and sand sheet are widely distributed and are dominant classes in this area. Other classes of land cover observed were canal, saline area, salt lake and protected plantation.