Dust aerosols have a profound impact on climate change, the ecological environment, and public health, highlighting the importance of systematic research. Numerical models serve as effective tools for the investigation of dust aerosols because they enable the simulation of processes, including dust emission, transport, dispersion, and deposition. However, substantial discrepancies remain in the simulation outputs of numerical models, which are largely attributed to incomplete dust emission parameterization schemes and uncertainties in the model input fields. We focus on methodologies for dust aerosol observation, advancements in numerical model development, progress in dust emission parameterization, and recent strides in data assimilation research. Based on the current research status, we analyzed issues in the research of dust aerosols using numerical models and outlined prospective avenues for future research. Through a comprehensive review of the advancements in numerical simulation studies of dust aerosols, we hope to offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for further research in related fields.