Based on the vegetation investigation of 30 plots and 152 quadrats, the distribution map of plant community types in Ulan Buhe Desert was firstly drawn by MAPGIS, and the species diversity and community structure of plant communities were evaluated by using the classical species diversity index. Moreover, the significant differences of biomass and soil nutrients between oasis and desert areas were analyzed. The results showed that a total of 94 species belonging to 58 genera and 21 families were recorded in the study area. Compositae, Gramineae and Amaranthaceae were the three most abundant species families. The natural vegetation in Ulan Buhe Desert was mainly composed of 16 groups and 35 groups, which were dominated by xerophytic, ultra-xerophytic or halophytic small shrubs and perennial herbs. The top three plant groups with the largest distribution area were: Form. Haloxylon ammodendron (1728.24 km²), Form. Nitraria tangutorum (1278.27 km²), and Form. Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (746.79 km²). The dominant layer of the community was shrub layer, which was dominated by small shrubs and semi-shrubs, and Nitraria tangutorum was the most frequent species in the sample plots. On the whole, the plants diversity level of the Ulan Buhe Desert was low, with Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index being 2.1086 and 0.8158, respectively. The effects of artificial oases on plant community composition in Ulan Buhe Desert were not obvious now, but the aboveground biomass in oasis area was significantly higher than that in desert area. There were almost no significant differences in the 8 soil nutrient indexes of the 6 soil layers between oasis area and desert area. The relevant investigation and research results can provide reference for the control of wind and sand, the restoration and maintenance of ecological environment in Ulan Buhe Desert area.