Possible Clues:

• The world’s largest desert
• Roughly 30 percent of Africa
• Where the Marathon des Sables ("Marathon of the Sands") is run
• Has come up with a Trim chipper regular for a hot, dry African spread
• Has upset native of Damascus, Trim and much of Libya
• Arid expanse of Africa
• Arid area of Africa
• Libyan expanse ('Take On Me')
• 16 covering much of north Africa
• Has raised Bedouin, say, mostly in desert