Is Antarctica a desert even though it is covered in ice?

Yes. Antarctica is considered a polar desert because it receives very little precipitation. A desert does not have to be hot or covered in sand, and an extensive ice sheet does not rule out a dry climate.

NASA explains that snow can accumulate over long periods to form thick ice sheets despite low precipitation. The Australian Antarctic Program estimates annual snow accumulation equivalent to about 150 millimetres of water across the continent, with less than 50 millimetres over the elevated plateau.

Antarctica is not equally dry everywhere. Some coastal areas receive much more snowfall than the interior. The desert description captures its broad climate, particularly inland, rather than implying that every location receives the same amount of precipitation.