A novel halophilic actinomycete, strain H32(T), was isolated from a Saharan soil sample collected in El-Oued province, south Algeria. The isolate was characterized by means of polyphasic taxonomy. Optimal growth was determined to occur at 28-32 °C, pH 6.0-7.0 and in the presence of 15-25 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain was observed to produce abundant aerial mycelium, which formed long chains of rod-shaped spores at maturity, and fragmented substrate mycelium. The cell wall was determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and the characteristic whole-cell sugars were arabinose and galactose. The predominant menaquinones were found to be MK-10(H4) and MK-9(H4). The predominant cellular fatty acids were determined to be anteiso C17:0, iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. The diagnostic phospholipid detected was phosphatidylcholine. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that this strain formed a distinct phyletic line within the radiation of the genus Actinopolyspora. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain H32(T) was most closely related to 'Actinopolyspora algeriensis' DSM 45476(T) (98.8 %) and Actinopolyspora halophila DSM 43834(T) (98.5 %). Furthermore, the result of DNA-DNA hybridization between strain H32(T) and the type strains 'A. algeriensis' DSM 45476(T), A. halophila DSM 43834(T) and Actinopolyspora mortivallis DSM 44261(T) demonstrated that this isolate represents a different genomic species in the genus Actinopolyspora. Moreover, the physiological and biochemical data allowed the differentiation of strain H32(T) from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, it is proposed that strain H32(T) represents a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora, for which the name Actinopolyspora saharensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H32(T) (=DSM 45459(T)=CCUG 62966(T)).