The desert planet in Frank Herbert's 'Dune' is Arrakis.
Arrakis is a fictional world defined by vast sand dunes, extreme heat, scarce water, and giant sandworms. It is also the only natural source of melange, commonly called spice, a substance that extends life, enhances awareness, and enables safe interstellar travel. Because of the spice, Arrakis becomes the most strategically valuable planet in the universe.
The planet's native Fremen call it Dune, and it is later known as Rakis. Important locations include Arrakeen, the city where imperial power is concentrated, and Sietch Tabr, a Fremen stronghold associated with Stilgar and Paul Atreides.
Readers sometimes confuse Arrakis with other planets in the novel. Caladan is the watery home world of House Atreides, Giedi Prime is associated with House Harkonnen, and Chusuk is another fictional planet. Arrakis is also more than a setting: its ecology, water discipline, spice economy, and colonial politics drive much of the story.