This species is known to occur within a restricted roadside locality in Hatta, north-east UAE (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium). The species was absent from Jongbloed et al. (2003) but included in the draft Red Data Book for the UAE (MEW 2010). Globally, the range of this species includes from Cape Verde to the Arabian Peninsula, to China and tropical Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019), however the native distribution is not clear. Kameswara Rao (2013) does not list presence in the UAE.

Within the UAE, this species is recorded along the Arabian Gulf Coast between Abu Dhabi and Ajman (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans across the tropical and subtropical Old World (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, Indiofera coerulea, records include Wadi Farfar (Jongbloed et al. 2003), the Ru'us al-Jibal (rare, single locality; Feulner 2011), Mezairaa (Jebel Ajman) and Wadi Nahawa (SSBH data), and WWNP (single record, ""Ghara tributary of Powerline Fork""; Feulner 2016). In montane environments, it is generally found at lower altitudes (Mahmoud et al. 2018). It is described as widespread within suitable wadi and mountain habitats (MEW 2010), and D. Aplin (pers. comm. 2020) found the species at Madhab (Fujairah). The distribution map is certainly incomplete. Globally, this species occurs from Mali to north-east tropical Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is known from Al Ain within the UAE. It is now considered to have a more restricted distribution than previously thought as a result of confusion with a related species, Indigofera colutea, which occurs along the west of the UAE (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998, Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species occurs from the Sahara to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, Indigofera arabica occurs within the plains to the west of the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is known from northeast tropical Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Helichrysum glumaceum has been recorded from mountains near Hatta in addition to Jebel Hafeet and Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). It is considered to exist at altitudes of c. 800 m and above (Feulner 2011). The native range of this species is tropical Africa to the Arabian Peninsula (H. glumaceum) and Iran (synonym H. makranicum) (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from a few scattered localities on the gravel plains at the base of Jebel Hafeet (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019) and from Al-Wigan (Jongbloed et al. 2003). some localities around the base of Jebel Hafeet have been lost in recent years (G. Brown pers. comm. 2020). The extent of occurrence is suspected to be less than 600 km² and the area of occupancy to be very much less than 500 km², however precise figures are not available. Globally, this species is native to temperate Asia and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is restricted to coastal areas of the Arabian Gulf, from at least Ra's Ghanadha at the northern end of the Al Taweela coastal plains (Brown et al. 2007) to Ra's al Khaimah (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in the north, and recorded from at least one offshore island (Zirku Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate; Brown et al. 2007). In addition, Western (1983a) recorded the species from Abu Dhabi Island and noted that the species formed a dominant broad belt for up to 100 m inland from north of Ra's Ghanadha, behind a clearly-defined barrier beach. Western (1983b) recorded the species from the seaward shore of Abu Dhabi Island, and that it persisted even after levelling and back-filling with material in early 1982. Al Meharibi et al. (2019) show presence to Abu Dhabi Island, hence perhaps the species does indeed persist there. Western also collected the species from Saadiyat Island (date uncertain, but assumed to be the 1980's). The estimated EOO is 14,328 km² and it is considered to occur at between 5-10 locations. Globally, its native range spans from Egypt south to Mozambique in Africa, Madagascar, through the Arabian Peninsula to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

Within the UAE, this species is widespread throughout coastal areas (Karim and Dakheel 2006, Perry 2008). It particular, it has been recorded from the R'as al-Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and its offshore islands, in addition to Fujairah and Dubai (Karim and Dakheel 2006, Sakkir et al. 2017). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Egypt and Eritrea to the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is known to occur at Jebel Hafeet, in the Ru'us al-Jibal and across the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Brown et al. 2007). It is considered to occur throughout a wide range of altitudes (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and in the Ru'us al-Jibal has been recorded from 500 m to at least 1,600 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Canary Islands, across northern Africa to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).