For gaining largescale land surface characteristic parameters, remote sensing techniques have been widely used in the research of estimation of the evapotranspiration in arid regions. This paper  introduces the methods of remote sensing technology providing surface characteristic parameters (surface albedo, leaf area index, surface temperature), and summarizes the main evapotranspiration models used to estimate regional evapotranspiration in arid regions. At last puts forward some  main problems in the estimation process and the future development direction.