Minecraft wiki entry for Best_biomes_for_homes, associated text: Good scene, and is an awesome place for large builds (or any kind of builds).
Desert pyramids spawn here (which contains good loot inside the treasure chests).
Desert villages spawn here.
Village temple have chests, which can be looted.
Desert villages are the only place where pig, sheep, and cow can be found in this biome.
The terrain is generally flat, apart from the hilly variants.
Rain does not obscure your vision from potential dangers like mobs. It also means no thunderstorms causing any trouble.
Lots of cactus and dead bushes.
Lots of sand means you can get lots of sandstone, TNT and glass. Sand and sandstone are quite rare in other biomes.
The bright sand can make it easier to see in the dark, and the mobs that come with it.
Undead mobs will have a harder time trying to find shade during the day with the lack of foliage.
Rabbits spawn here, which offer food since the desert doesn't naturally spawn other animals.
Fossils spawn underground in this biome like the swampland biome, which can be a good source of bone meal.
Pillager outposts can generate here, which supply a large amount of dark oak log and birch planks in the desert, and the occasional iron golem. However, the pillagers will be quite a challenge if the player has not yet obtained wood.