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).

The distribution and origin of this species in the UAE is uncertain. <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00262941"">RBGE Herbarium</a> holds one specimen from Al Khazna on the Abu Dhabi - Al Ain road (from cultivated garden; coll. R.A. Western, 1984). MEW (2010) considered the species ""not common"", restricted as a weed to plantations, without distribution data. Jongbloed et al. (2003) cite presence in Al Ain and Ghail. A wild individual has also been recorded from Masafi. The global range of this species is from the Caucasus to Central Asia and the western Himalayas, and south to Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded from Wadi Diftah in the northeast of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003), from Wadi Al Ain (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium), and from Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Macaronesia to the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula, and east to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). It has been recorded from adjacent countries in the Arabian Peninsula, including from Al Wajajah in Wadi Hatta, Oman, close to the border with the UAE.

Within the UAE, it has been recorded once (without specific locality details; Jongbloed et al. 2003), however this record needs to be confirmed (MEW 2010). There is a specimen of this species within the Sharjah Museum, although this is believed to have been collected from Oman. The species is not listed for the UAE by Kameswara Rao (2013). Globally, this species is native from the Sahara to southern Africa, in addition to the Arabian Peninsula and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded from both Al Ain and Abu Dhabi (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species includes northern Africa, Macaronesia, the Mediterranean and through to Iran, according to Plants of the World online (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). GRIN (2019) exclude the Arabian Peninsula from the natural range of this species. G.R. Feulner (in litt., MEW 2010) suggests that the species may be a recent introduction to the UAE.

Within the UAE, this species occurs in Ras al-Khaimah, within Wadi Sal, Hatta and Masafi (UAE National Red List Workshop, 15th-19th September 2019, Dubai). Globally, this species occurs from the Sahara to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is generally considered to occur within the sandy desert of the country, although, it has also been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs along the Arabian Gulf coastline to the northwest of the country (Brown et al. 2007) and the east coast, as well as inland at Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003). However, these records need to be confirmed as the species is easily confused with other similar species, such as Astragalus hamosus and Astragalus biababensis. The native range of this species spans from Algeria to Lebanon, the Arabian Peninsula and on to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is cited for the UAE by Jongbloed et al. (2003), and has been recorded from Ras al Khaimah and Rams (Jongbloed et al. 2003). S. Sakkir (pers. comm. 2019) recorded the species as being cultivated in Al Ain. The species is considered introduced/cultivated to the UAE by MoCCaE (O. Al Shamsi pers. comm. 2019), and only S. italica is considered native to the UAE by RBG Edinburgh (provisional checklist, A. Forrest pers. comm. 2018). Globally, the native range of this species spans across the Sahara and Sahel to the Indian Subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is known from scattered locations on sand and gravel (M. Jongbloed pers. comm. 2019). In particular, it has been recorded from Al Ain, in addition to along the Al Ain to Dubai road. The origin of the species in the UAE requires confirmation, as it may have been introduced to the country for cultivation (MEW 2010). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia only) to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).