Within the UAE this species has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Records include Jebel Jais at high elevations (M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019). The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) of this species is 50-100 km², and the AOO is likely to be very restricted (much less than 500 km², but more than 10 km²). However, the species is likely to be under recorded and the habitat type is not well surveyed.Globally, this is a broadly distributed species and is found across the western and southern half of Europe, extending southwards and eastwards to North Africa, Yemen, Djibouti, India and China (Christenhusz et al. 2017, Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is widespread in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011), with an additional record from Ras al-Khaimah Emirate (Diftah, southeast of Masafi), on a steep northwest-facing jebel slope above a steep-walled wadi (Rothfels et al. 2012). The species is generally considered to grow at high altitudes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species occurs in adjacent parts of the mountains in Oman, e.g., on Jebel Ghaweel, along the border north of Al Ain (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). Globally, the native range of this species includes Mediterranean parts of Europe and North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

Within the UAE, this species is known to occur in east coast plantations in addition to Masafi, Khatt and Wadi Hiluw in the north and the north-east of the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is native to Africa, western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is common and widespread in the eastern parts of the UAE, in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal, and also found south to Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010, Feulner 2011; <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00436646"">RBGE Herbarium</a>). The species is a common ornamental and landscaping plant, and may also have been planted for medicinal use. The species is found across the southern hemisphere (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is widespread but restricted to the Ru'us al-Jibal at moderate (from c. 800 m) to high elevations. Although it is present in the Eastern Hajar Mountains, it is absent in the Western Hajar Mountains (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010), although also found in Musandam (Patzelt 2015). In the Eastern Hajar Mountains, it is observed from altitudes of c. 600 m and is considered to be among the dominant trees at altitudes above c. 1000 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). The native range of this species is Turkey to northern Iran and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs in sand plains between Ajman and Umm al-Quwain in the north of the country, in addition to between Manam and Ras al Khaimah (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has also been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal at low elevations of around 250 m up to 1,000 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Spain and Portugal in Europe, across northern Africa and into parts of Central Asia, and east to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Kew also considers the species to be native to California, USA, and Mexico in the Americas, however GRIN (2010) considers it to be naturalised there.

This species occurs within the Ru'us al-Jibal and persists at high elevations within this area (MEW 2010). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the eastern Mediterranean, through to the Arabian Peninsula and western Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Periploca aphylla occurs in the Hajar mountains and the Ru'us al Jibal mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003); it is considered to be widespread within montane areas (Western 1992, Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species occurs at a range of altitudes, from around 400-500 m to high elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs in West Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

Pergularia tomentosa occurs in the northern emirates, within the north-east of Abu Dhabi Emirate and rarely in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011) as well as the Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016). Where it occurs in montane areas, it is restricted to low altitudes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species occurs from the Sahara in northern Africa to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The distribution of this species in the UAE has previously been debated due to misidentification for other members of the genus, including Cyperus conglomeratus. The only determinations found are those by L. MacKinnon at RBG Edinburgh Herbarium, representing five specimens from three localities; - <a href=""https://data.rbge.org.uk/search/herbarium/?specimen_num=679006&cfg=zoom.cfg&filename=E00647618.zip"">Sharjah</a>, Dubai road (two specimens; E102; at side of road), 139 m on inland red sand dunes beside the road.- <a href=""https://data.rbge.org.uk/search/herbarium/?specimen_num=678987&cfg=zoom.cfg&filename=E00647633.zip"">Abu Dhabi Emirate</a>; Tarif (two specimens; by side of road, E45), 33 m, inland area of coastal white sand dunes close to edge of sabkha area.- <a href=""https://data.rbge.org.uk/search/herbarium/?specimen_num=678892&cfg=zoom.cfg&filename=E00647666.zip"">Abu Dhabi Emirate</a>, south of Madinat Zayed (one specimen, by side of road, E45), disturbed roadside verge, inland red sand dunes. However, it appears that this species is relatively widespread, occurring across the majority of inland UAE. This species has a wide global distribution from the Sahara, through the Arabian Peninsula, to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).