Within the UAE, it is widespread within the northern Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). Within the Ru'us al-Jibal, it is estimated to occur at lower elevations, up to c. 600 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses Egypt and northeast tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known to occur in the Ru'us al-Jibal between 400-900 m altitude (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). The native range of this species includes northeast tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species has a restricted distribution in the Hajar Mountains and Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003), although the record (single location in Wadi Khaab Shamsi) mentioned for the Ru'us al-Jibal in Feulner (2011) is within Oman. The species has also been recorded from Wadi Tarabat on Jebel Hafeet (Karim and Fawzi 2007). The EOO is estimated at between 2,000 and 2,500 km², however the AOO cannot be estimated as detailed locality data are not available. The global range of this species is through the Arabian Peninsula to Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is known to be widespread within the southern Hajar Mountains and occurs within the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). It is also known from Jebel Hafeet (EAD 2018). Generally, it grows at higher elevations above c. 500 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Arabian Peninsula, to Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, Jongbloed et al. (2003) reported the species is found in scattered locations in eastern part of the country. However, it seems as though the species may be present more widely, such as around Al Ain (RBGE Herbarium specimens). The species also occurs in the central Ru'us al-Jibal as an occasional (Feulner 2011) and has been found at Wadi Al Ain (Mousa and Fawzi 2009). The species has also been recorded from the Nakhali Palace areas, southeast of Dubai city (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00374810"">RBGE Herbarium, coll. U. Deil, 1987</a>). The global range of this species is across much of western and northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, Jongbloed et al. (2003) reported this species from Jebel Hafeet, where it is found at the base and on the lower slopes (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2020). The Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium hold one record from the Al Madam-Hatta Road in Oman, very close to the border with the UAE, c.5 km from Al Madam. The species is also believed to occur along the Hajar Mountain front east of Jebel Hafeet, in the Omani province of Wilayat Mahdhah (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2020). The global range of this species is from northeastern Africa and through the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

There are few records of this species in the UAE. Jongbloed et al. (2003) gives localities as Rams (R'as Al-Khaimah), Al Ain (Abu Dhabi), and the Masafi-Dibba Road (Fujairah/R'as Al-Khaimah). The Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium holds specimens from two localities; Wadi Shees (Fujairah) and from the Mahafez bridge (Sharjah-Kalba Road, Sharjah). Mahmoud et al. (2018) records the species from their work in the eastern UAE, without localities. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species appears to be known from a small number of mostly old records. R.A. Western collected the species in 1982 from Umm an-Nar between the old and new Abu Dhabi airports (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00140039"">RBGE Herbarium</a>), and again in 1982 from an adjacent site: a small island close to the new airport (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00140044"">RGBE Herbarium</a>). The continued presence of the species in this area requires confirmation due to the extensive development that has occurred since the species was collected. Jongbloed et al. (2003) mention the species without localities, simply stating that it occurs along the Arabian Gulf coast. The global range of this species is through the Arabian Peninsula to Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Farsetia heliophila is also known to occur in the Musandam in Oman.

In the UAE, this species was recorded by M. Jongbloed from the base of Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The distribution is uncertain as a result of confusion with other members of the genus, particularly Fagonia indica (MEW 2010). The global distribution of the species is from Egypt in the west to Pakistan in the east and to Kenya and Somalia in the south (Beier 2005). This is one of the most widespread species in Oman (S. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019).

It is found within montane regions, ranging from low altitudes up to c. 1200 m (Feulner 2011, Patzelt 2015). A distinctive and common species at Jebel Hafeet (Stuart and Stuart 1998), this plant is also widespread within the Hajar Mountains and can be found in the Olive Highlands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2014). This species is native to Iran and the Arabian peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).