Leguminous plants in arid regions are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Clarifying the characteristics and application potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with these legumes is of great value for enhancing plant stress resistance and facilitating ecological restoration in arid areas. By exploring the functional diversity of PGPR in the rhizosphere of arid-region legumes and constructing synthetic microbial communities, it is possible to help plants resist abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, as well as restore degraded soil ecosystems in arid regions. However, systematic research on PGPR of leguminous plants in arid zones remains insufficient. This review focuses on leguminous plants in arid regions of China, clarifies their geographical distribution and ecological advantages in arid environments, and elucidates the stress resistance and growth-promoting mechanisms of legume PGPR, along with their application prospects in enhancing plant stress tolerance. Furthermore, it suggests that future research should focus on in-depth exploration of microbial resources, clarifying the adaptability of legumes to different soil types in arid regions, and promoting the application of PGPR for legumes in arid areas. This study has significant theoretical and practical value for the precise construction and application of synthetic microbial communities to enhance plant stress resistance and ensure ecological and agricultural sustainability in arid regions.