It is widespread within the UAE, occurring in Dubai, Masafi, Fujairah, Al Ain and at Jebel Hafeet (Stuart and Stuart 1998, El Alqamy 2004, Karim and Dakheel 2006). It has also been spread to Abu Dhabi Island. Globally, this species occurs from Africa to Myanmar (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

According to Jongbloed et al. (2003), this is a common and widespread species in the eastern parts of the UAE. However, Brown et al. (2007) also registered it in Taweela (Abu Dhabi Emirate) and for this reason, they suggest that the distribution of this species should be extended further southwest to Abu Dhabi Island. Furthermore, the species is common on the plains at the base of Jebel Hafeet (Brown et al. 2007), and at Al Ain, Dubai and Shwayb (Karim and Dakheel 2006). The species is present in the south-west of the Ru'us al-Jibal, at low elevations (Feulner 2011). This species is globally distributed in Macaronesia, North Africa to Pakistan and South Africa (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal, but elsewhere, there are only two other records from the Hajar Mountains, within the Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016). It is considered to generally inhabit low-medium elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean, through northern Africa and northeast tropical Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is known to occur at high elevations within its range, up to 1,700 m (Feulner 2011). The native range of this species spans from the eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula and western Himalayas (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). It can be found at altitudes up to and above 1,000 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species' native range extends from Macaronesia to Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The subspecies Senecio glaucus coronopifolius occurs within the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). This plant is considered to be widespread within both coastal and montane areas of the northern UAE (G.R. Feulner, in lit, MEW 2010). It is known to occur at Taweela (Brown et al. 2007) in addition to the Ru'us al-Jibal, where it ranges from 250 m altitude to 1,600 m (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010, Feulner 2011). Globally, this species ranges from northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is known from sand dunes in the north east, in addition to being widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Brown et al. 2007, MEW 2010, Feulner 2014). It is recorded as growing at a wide range of altitudes (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs from Macaronesia to Tanzania, in addition to northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and on to western India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs at scattered localities within the northeast of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003), but is believed to be widespread in the Hajar Mountains and foothills (MEW 2010). It has been recorded at altitudes up to 1,000 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs from the Canary Islands, across northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and on to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has a restricted geographic range and has only been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is further restricted in this area to only encompass terrace habitats (Patzelt 2015), but is thought to persist at high altitudes of around c. 1100 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from the Mediterranean and northern Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species was known from a small number of scattered localities in the Al Ain, Al Dabb'iya, and Dubai Creek areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Davis recorded the species from a Kalba date garden, 1 km west of Kalba (coll. P.H. Davis, 1993, <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00003810"">RBGE Herbarium</a>). More recent surveys (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium, RBG Kew seed survey data) show a wider, although still scattered, distribution in the eastern emirates, although some locality records may be the result of human transport, as associated with road networks. It is also known from Abu Dhabi island and Al Ain, and it may be more widespread than currently known. The species occurs from Spain, across northern Africa, to the Arabian Peninsula, and east to Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).