In the UAE, this species occurs along the Arabian Gulf coast. Its range along the coast is considered to be fragmented. Globally, this species occurs from the Canary Islands, through Europe and northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs in the Liwa area to the south of the country. It is also found in inland plantation sites. The distribution is uncertain due to confusion with Cistanche tubulosa. Globally, the native range of this species spans across the Mediterranean, Macaronesia and northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). In the southern Hajar Mountains in the UAE, the species is found along ridges in the 'Olive Highlands' (Feulner 2014), in Wadi Wurayah National Park at all elevations (Feulner 2016), and at all elevations in wadis and on plateaus in the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). The global range of this species is through the Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Jongbloed et al. (2003) gave the distribution of this species (as the synonym Verbascum cedreti) as the southern parts of the Hajar Mountains in the UAE. The draft Red Data Book for the UAE flora (MEW 2010) considered the species to be widespread in the Hajar Mountains, however G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) commented that he has only seen the species associated with cultivation. Most of his observations come from plantations in the Mahdah area of Oman, where there is more water. Mahmoud et al. (2018) found the species only once in their study of dams and water breakers along the western slopes of the Hajar Mountains. Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium hold a specimen from north of Al Shwaib, Abu Dhabi Emirate. <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00066936"">RBG Edinburgh Herbarium</a> hold a specimen of Verbascum omanense Hub.-Mor., which MEW (2010) considered a synonym of V. sinaiticum, from Wadi Jeema, Hatta town. However, this synonym requires confirmation and it is not currently accepted by Plants of the World Online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). The native range is given as from north-east Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia), to Egypt (Sinai mountains) and the eastern Mediterranean, eastwards through Iran to Afghanistan, but excluding the UAE (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species was first recorded for the UAE from Wadi Beh (Bih) by Böer and Chaudhary (1999). Later recorded (as Umbilicus horizontalis var. intermedius) in the UAE from the Ru'us al Jibal, Sha'am (Ras al-Khaimah) and Masafi (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Feulner (2011) recorded the species in the Ru'us al-Jibal from 500 m to at least 1,750 m asl and commented that the species is restricted in the UAE to the Ru'us al Jibal and Masafi, being either rare or absent from the Hajar Mountains to the south. This species has a Mediterranean distribution, present in southern Europe and North Africa, extending east to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species is found along the northern Gulf coast; in plantations, gardens, and by roadsides (MEW 2010). RBG Edinburgh Herbarium holds specimens from; 1. <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00358081"">Khor Fakkan</a> (Fujairah) in sandy soil, c. 1 km from coast; 2. <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00358082"">3 km north of Shwayb</a>, in fixed dunes, and 3. <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00358092"">Kalba date gardens</a>, 1 km west of Kalba, in a shallow archaeological pit in sandy soil within a former agricultural field. Feulner (2011) did not record the species from UAE parts of the Ru'us al-Jibal. The species has a wide native distribution, from much of Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan, and from China (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). It has been very widely introduced throughout the Americas. It is considered introduced and naturalised in Taiwan (Jung and Cheng 2016), and the origin of the species in mainland China perhaps requires confirmation.

Within the UAE, it occurs along the coast of Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). The species occurs throughout Oman from near sea-level to c.200 m (Ghazanfar 2015). The native range of this species encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded from Jebel Hafeet and within the Ru'us al-Jibal (Stuart and Stuart 1998, Jongbloed et al. 2003; Feulner 2011, 2016). The species is described as widespread within the Hajar Mountains (Stuart and Stuart 1998, Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is common in adjacent parts (mountains and coastal wadis) of northern Oman (Ghazanfar 2015). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses coastal Somalia, the southern Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and India (Board of Trustees RBG Kew 2019, Ghazanfar 2015).

Within the UAE this species is widespread, generally present in coastal areas (Böer and Griggs 1994, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Böer and Saenger 2006, Perry 2008). It used to be common around Abu Dhabi Island, however much of its suitable habitat here was destroyed (Western 1992). Some inland localities remain, such as at Al Ain, in addition to some offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir et al. 2017). This species is native to Europe, Africa and temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is fairly widespread, having been specifically recorded from Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman (Karim and Dakheel 2006). This species is native to north-east Africa, through to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).