This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of FAO-UNEP and MEDALUS models in evaluating desertification risk in the south of Nishabur, located in the northeastern part of Iran, covering an area of approximately 118,658 ha. To create the base maps for this study, satellite data of ETM+, field data, and maps from various regional administrative offices were used. ArcGIS software was used for data analysis and calculations to obtain the desertification hazard map. The FAO-UNEP model with the 17 most important indicators was used to prepare the desertification risk map. The related indices were studied in five aspects: state, rate (trend), potential, domestic animals' pressure, and human population pressure. To produce the desertification risk map, the MEDALUS model evaluated four key quality factors, including soil, climate, vegetation, and management. According to the FAO-UNEP model, human and domestic animal pressures play the maximum and minimum roles, respectively, in increasing the risk of desertification. In contrast, in the MEDALUS model, management and vegetation play the maximum and minimum roles in increasing the intensity of desertification. The study area was found to have more moderate and critical hazard classes according to the FAO-UNEP and MEDALUS models, respectively. The reduced production indicator was used to compare the two models. The desertification risk classes in the FAO-UNEP model were more closely aligned with the decreased production indicator, as confirmed by the correlation matrix. Overall, the FAO-UNEP model performed better in this area due to its utilization of various indicators, including water and wind erosions.