Only three records of this species have been found for the UAE. An isotype was collected ""in the mountains"" in the UAE (presumably the Hajar Mountains) by Schimper in 1844 (held at <a href=""https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/11601/_HERBARW_NHMV_AUSTRIA_87887.html"">Natural History Museum, Vienna - Herbarium W</a>). G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) collected the species in 2004-5 from cemented dune sands at the mountain front adjacent to the Qurayyah wetland: an artificial wetland near the base of cliffs on the coastal plain north of Fujairah created by sewage dumping that has since been destroyed by development (Feulner 2016, G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). Demissew and Mill (2009) reviewed a specimen from Hatta (hills and foothills, 300 m asl; specimen collected in 1986 and voucher held at <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00421795"">RBG Edinburgh</a>). This species has a wide native range from the Sahara to Tanzania in Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to north-west India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species has a restricted distribution in the UAE, where it is found in the Ru'us al-Jibal Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003) at up to 1,200 m elevation (Feulner 2011), extending into the Hajar Mountains, south to Wadi Wurayah National Park (Wadi Zikt, G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010), and even to Wadi Fa'y (near Wadi Hatta), including Wadi Shawka (M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019), but as isolated records rather than as a continuous distribution. The EOO is less than 1,000 km². The global range of this species is from Spain and Macaronesia, across north and north-east Africa, through to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is reported from a single locality in the upper parts of Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The draft Red Data Book (MEW 2010) considered the record to be unconfirmed. Whilst detailed locality data for Jebel Hafeet are not available, the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are both likely to be less than 8 km². Although, in general, records of this species within the UAE appear to be unconfirmed (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019). G. Brown, S. Sakkir and S. Ghazanfar state that they have not seen this species within the UAE or in Oman (pers. comm. 2019). The global distribution requires confirmation, but the species appears to be restricted to the West Asia region, from the Sinai and southern Israel to the Arabian Peninsula and east to Afghanistan (Kilian et al. 2019), although Plants of the World Online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019) does not cite occurrence in the UAE.

The species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and also occurs on Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is absent from Wadi Wurayah National Park according to Feulner (2016), but is sited for the park by Judas (2016). Feulner (2016) found the species in small numbers in the park buffer zone (Wadi Siji). Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium holds records for a small number of sites around Maleha, western Sharjah. Plants of the World Online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019) cites this species as native to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Oman. It does not list the UAE as a native country of occurrence for this species.

Within the UAE, this species is recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal and from Jebel Masafi (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is known to occur from low to high elevations within the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species' native range spans from Pakistan to temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is recorded from mountainous areas (MEW 2010) and can be found from the Hatta area in the south to the Ru'us al-Jibal in the north. In the Ru'us al-Jibal, it occurs from 500 m to 1,500 m altitude (Feulner 2011). In the Hatta area (and in the Hajar Mountains of Oman to the south), it can be found at wadi level (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). A distribution map is not possible due to confusion between this and other Salvia taxa. This species has a wide native range from southeastern Turkey to Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). In Oman, this species is recorded from Musandam (Ru'us al-Jibal) southwards to the eastern Hajar (Jebel Aswad) where it is reported to be abundant (apparently localised but not rare where found; S.A. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019). It is also found in Wilayat Mahdhah, in the northwestern part of contiguous Oman, along the border with the UAE (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019).

The species is widespread in the north-east of the UAE and is also known to occur in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is generally recorded from low elevations (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is native to the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species is used extensively as a horticultural plant along roads, in wadis and coastal areas, and is likely to have been cultivated historically for medicinal use. The species is not common in the wild in the UAE, and it is hard to differentiate truly 'wild' plants from cultivated and 'escapee' plants. Jongbloed et al. (2003) cite three wild localities in the UAE; Dubai Creek, the Shawka-Munay area, and Kalba. In addition, it is described as occurring in the Hajar Mountains, within rocky areas, in addition to Jebel Hafeet. It is cultivated in many regions of the UAE, especially in western dunes, wadis and coastal areas, and as windbreaks along roadsides (DDCR 2019). The species is native to Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, although the UAE is excluded by Plants of the World online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded at Sha'am and Abu Dhabi (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is native to northern Africa, the Sahara, Israel and through to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from Jebel Hafeet (Stuart and Stuart 1998). However, it is generally recorded from scattered locations across the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species is native to Somalia, Oman, Qatar and the UAE (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).