The soil microarthropods were sampled in the three major habitats of the Namib Desert, namely the gravel plain, an ephemeral river and sand dunes. In spite of severe climatic conditions and low soil organic matter content, microarthropods extracted through CCl4 flotation were found to be surprisingly diversified and abundant. A total of 47 microarthropod species were collected, including 30 mite and one collembolan species. Actinedida were the richest mite order sampled. Microarthropod densities varied from zero under the annual form of Stipagrostis ciliata to 687 individuals/dm2 under Welwitschia and were poorly correlated with soil properties measured. Contrary to mites, collembolan density was affected by artificial watering. Microarthropod and mite richness was correlated with soil properties and together cation K+ and Na+ concentrations explained 69% of the mite richness. Comparisons made with the soil mesofauna from other deserts (Chihuahuan, Mojave, Negev, southern Australia) highlight the abundance and richness of the Namib microarthropods.