In the UAE, Jongbloed et al. (2003) considered this species to be restricted to scattered localities in the eastern parts, along parts of the western foothills of the Hajar Mountains, from Jebel Hafeet (Western 1982), and from a locality south of Sharjah. Karim and Dakheel (2006) included records for Al Ain, Shwayb, Hatta and Dhaid. The native range of this species is from the Canary Islands (Fuertaventura), across North Africa and the Sahara, to southern Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species is widespread in the sandy desert of the northern Emirates (Jongbloed et al. 2003). <a href=""https://data.rbge.org.uk/search/herbarium/?family=&genus=Cleome&species=amblyocarpa&coll_name=&coll_num=&barcode=&country_name=United+Arab+Emirates&region=&major_taxon=&cfg=vherb.cfg&keywords="">RBGE Herbarium specimens</a> include Jebel Qarn Nazwa, plains around Shwayb, the road between Al Ain and Ayn Al-Faidah, plain to the east of Jebel Faiya (Sharjah), and the Al Ain suburbs. The global range of this species is across northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known from scattered locations in the Hajar Mountains, and from the Ru'us al-Jibal, where it is more widespread (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). The species is found on coastal cliffs and in wadis of the Ru'us al-Jibal, as well as on other carbonate massifs such as Jebel Hafeet (G.R. Feulner, in lit, MEW 2010) and Jebel Maleihah (Feulner 2011). In the Ru'us al-Jibal, Feulner (2011) reported the species from 5 m - 1,000 m asl. Brown and Sakkir (2004) report the species from offshore islands in Abu Dhabi Emirate without specific details. The native range of this species is in Africa from Egypt south to Tanzania, through the Arabian Pen, West Asia to India, and the western Indian Ocean (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is widespread throughout the Hajar Mountains and Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). It is found at altitudes between sea level and c. 700 m (Feulner 2011), and up to 1,000 m (M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019). It also occurs, introduced, in plantations. Its native range is from Cape Verde to northwest India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from Kutwah, Wadi Diftah and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). In the Ru'us al-Jibal, it is recorded up to at least 1,350 m in altitude (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans across western Europe and the Mediterranean, including Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). The species has been very widely introduced globally, and is sometimes considered a weed. The species may well be native to the UAE, but given its wide use as a medicinal plant, introduction is possible.

In the UAE, the species is recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003), where it is occasional between c.500-1,600 m asl, and also present, more rarely, in the Hajar Mountains immediately to south (Feulner 2011). Records include Jebel Jais (Ras Al Khaimah), Wadi Al Hilo (Fujairah; origin uncertain; Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium), and from the Al Ain area (origin uncertain; Sajjad et al. 2017). The species is reportedly common in the northern Oman foothills (Ghazanfar 1992). This species is listed as an introduced landscape plant by MoCCaE (O. Al Shamsi pers. comm. 2018). The UAE native plant working group considered the species to be native to the UAE, and it is retained here on that basis. The species is native across north-east Africa, extending southwards into Somalia and Kenya, westwards to Senegal, across the Middle East, and as far eastwards as northern Pakistan and northern India (Samuels 2012).

In the UAE, this species is common throughout the mountains and associated gravel plains, sand sheets, and in wadis of the northern emirates (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). In addition to the broad distribution shown by Jongbloed et al. (2003), Karim and Dakheel (2006) record presence to the west at Dhaid, Tarif and Giathy. The species has only one historical record in Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2011) The native range of this species is from southern Europe (Sicily and Crete), to Egypt to southern Africa, and east through the Arabian Peninsula to western India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, the species is restricted to the central and western side of the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and associated gravel plains and wadis (MEW 2010). There is also a record (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium) from Al Shuwaib, Abu Dhabi Emirate. The species is not recorded from Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP) but does occur in the buffer zone, in the upper Wadi Abadilah (Feulner 2016). The species is also recorded for Jebel Hafeet (Karim and Fawzi 2007). The global range of this species is from northern Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, through the Arabian Peninsula (the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia) to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and within the parts of the Ru'us al-Jibal within the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). The native range of the species is from Macaronesia, through North Africa (and south to South Africa and Madagascar) to north-west India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). The species is found throughout Oman, but especially common in northern Oman (S. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019). Elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula found in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen (S. Ghazanfar pers. comm. 2019).

Within the UAE, this species can be found in the Hajar Mountains (Feulner 2011). It has been recorded from medium to high elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Egypt and Eritrea, through to the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).