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).

Within the UAE it is known from a single low altitude locality within the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species is native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and through to Pakistan according to Plants of the Wold online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). However, there appears to be some uncertainty; Randall (2017) considers it a weed, dispersed by humans and livestock, that is native to Africa, whilst Pahlevani (2017) considers it native to Asia (Saudi Arabia and Yemen only) and Africa.

Within the UAE, it is widespread throughout the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species ranges from Kenya to northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is recorded from the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, however, detailed distribution information was not given by Jongbloed et al. (2003). Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium hold records from scattered localities through the Hajar Mountains; Wadi Al Bih, Safsaf area, Al Manama, Kedra, Dibba-Khor Fakkan, Al Bithnah, and Hatta. It was not recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal by Feulner (2011) or from Wadi Wurayah National Park by Feulner (2016). Globally, the native range of this species extends from Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this plant species is recorded in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain (Jongbloed et al. 2003), with an additional record from near Khor Fakkan on the east coast. The species is abundant in lawns in Abu Dhabi urban area (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019), however these individuals may well have been introduced or escapees. In the world, it is native to Tropical & Subtropical Old World, but it has been very widely introduced to the Americas and to Australasia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).