Jongbloed et al. (2003, citing T.A. Cope and F. Karim) reported this species from a few localities at Mafraq and Al Ain (gravel plains below Jebel Hafeet; Al Meharibi et al. 2019). Feulner (in litt., MEW 2010) considered the species to be more widespread, with records from Hulaylah Island (Ras al-Khaimah) and Khor Kalba on the east coast (G. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). It also occurs within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The estimated EOO for this species is 18,289 km² and it is considered to occur in fewer than ten threat-based locations. The global distribution of this species is across northern Africa (across the Sahara, and Angola to Namibia) to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

Within the UAE, it is known to occur to the northeast of Taweela (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019) and along the coast in the northern Emirates (G.R. Feulner in litt., MEW 2010), in addition to offshore islands (G. Brown and S. Sakkir pers. comm. 2019). Although it was previously recorded from Jebel Hafeet, this record is thought to be erroneous due to possible confusion with Gymnocarpos decandrus (Brown et al. 2007). The estimated EOO for this species is 18,168 km² and it is thought to occur at between 6-10 threat-based locations according to ongoing development. Globally, the native range of this species spans from Egypt and north-east Africa to Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been known to occur around Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in addition to the north of the UAE (Karim and Dakheel 2006). It has also been documented on the off-shore islands of Abu Dhabi (Sakkir et al. 2017), such as Malawah (S. Sakkir pers. comm. 2019), and to the east of the country in Ras Ghumais. However, ongoing coastal development along both the Arabian Gulf coast and the east coast is likely to have reduced the extent of this species' distribution within the UAE. For example, the subpopulation at Taweela has been extirpated as this locality has been lost. The estimated EOO for this species is 14,809 km² and there are estimated to be 6-10 locations. Globally, the native range of this species encompasses Egypt to northeast tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is known to occur within a restricted roadside locality in Hatta, north-east UAE (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium). The species was absent from Jongbloed et al. (2003) but included in the draft Red Data Book for the UAE (MEW 2010). Globally, the range of this species includes from Cape Verde to the Arabian Peninsula, to China and tropical Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019), however the native distribution is not clear. Kameswara Rao (2013) does not list presence in the UAE.

Within the UAE, this species is restricted to coastal areas of the Arabian Gulf, from at least Ra's Ghanadha at the northern end of the Al Taweela coastal plains (Brown et al. 2007) to Ra's al Khaimah (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in the north, and recorded from at least one offshore island (Zirku Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate; Brown et al. 2007). In addition, Western (1983a) recorded the species from Abu Dhabi Island and noted that the species formed a dominant broad belt for up to 100 m inland from north of Ra's Ghanadha, behind a clearly-defined barrier beach. Western (1983b) recorded the species from the seaward shore of Abu Dhabi Island, and that it persisted even after levelling and back-filling with material in early 1982. Al Meharibi et al. (2019) show presence to Abu Dhabi Island, hence perhaps the species does indeed persist there. Western also collected the species from Saadiyat Island (date uncertain, but assumed to be the 1980's). The estimated EOO is 14,328 km² and it is considered to occur at between 5-10 locations. Globally, its native range spans from Egypt south to Mozambique in Africa, Madagascar, through the Arabian Peninsula to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

In the UAE, this species is restricted to the southern Hajar Mountains, from the Fujairah area (G.R. Feulner in lit. in MEW 2010) and the 'Olive Highlands' to Jebel Hafeet (M. Jongbloed in Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2014). The species occurs in Wadi Helo (El-Keblawy et al. 2016), and has been recorded from Jabal Sahab, olive wadi (Wadi Sfai; M. Tsaliki pers. comm. 2019). This species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, where it is found from eastern central Yemen to Oman (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019) and the eastern UAE.

This species is known from few records in the UAE. Jongbloed et al. (2003) cite two records by R.A. Western from coastal areas of Ajman and Umm al Quwain (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00043043"">RBGE Herbarium</a>; R.A. Western; 1985, ""Umm al Quwain to Moola Road""). <a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00043042"">RBGE</a> also hold a specimen (K. Müller-Hohenstein 1986) from dunes near Al Awir (Dubai). G. Brown (pers. comm. 2019) has only seen the species once in the UAE, near coastal sandsheets in Umm Al Quwain. R.A Western collected the species from ""Ruus al Jibal summit"" in 1985 (Western 1985), precise locality not known and possibly not within the UAE. The estimated EOO of this species is 2340 km²and it is considered to occur at fewer then 10 threat-based locations. The global range of this species is through the Arabian Peninsula to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This plant species has been recorded from Ras al Khaimah and Arabian Gulf islands, including Das Island (Western 1994, Gillett 2002, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir et al. 2017). In 2007, one individual was found at Taweela (Brown et al. 2007), although this area has now been lost as a result of development. The species is also scattered across offshore islands, and is thought to be common on Zirku and Arzanah. Further, in 2005 and 2007, this species was reported as being locally common in Al Jazeera al-Hamra (Ra's al-Khaimah). Therefore, it is possible that this plant species is more widespread in disturbed areas along the coastline (Brown et al. 2007). The estimated EOO is around 21,009 km² and it is considered to occur in 5-10 threat-based locations. The AOO has not been calculated as few point data are available, but is estimated to be very much less than 2,000 km² and inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline as a result of development. The global distribution of this species includes Europe, Africa and Asia-Temperate (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

This species has a restricted distribution in the UAE, where it is known from two sites in the Hajar Mountains. Feulner and Karki (2009) undertook fieldwork to search for the species in suitable habitat in northern Oman and in the UAE, finding the species at just two sites in the UAE; Wadi Shawka and Wadi Wurayah National Park (a single location above the Wadi Wurayah waterfall; Feulner 2016). G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019) also found the species at Wadi Hala (Ras al Khaimah). Saccharum kajkaiense has also been recorded from a locality south-east of Shawqa (Dave Aplin pers. comm. 2019). Given the records from adjacent parts of Oman to the west, south, and southeast of Hatta (including at Wadi Qahfi, part of the 'Hatta Pools'), the presence of the species in suitable habitat (permanent water) within the UAE around Hatta might be expected, but it was not found during surveys by Feulner and Karki (2009). The species may occur at other sites with permanent water, as it is difficult to identify S. kajkaiense amongst the large background populations of S. griffithii (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). Based on the four currently known localities, the AOO is 16 km² using a 2x2 km grid, although the actual area where this species occurs is very much less, just a few square meters. It is considered to occur at four threat-based locations. The altitude range in the UAE is c. 200 - 450 m asl, but it is found to above 1,000 m in neighbouring parts of Oman. R.A. Western (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00240941"">RBG Edinburgh Herbarium specimen</a>) collected the species in 1990 from Wadi Rayy in Oman, just south of Hatta in the UAE and Cock (2009) collected the species from east of Hatta (Wadi Qahfi), also in Oman. Feulner and Karki (2009) summarise the known records for the UAE and northern Oman. The global distribution of this species is from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman and the United Arab Emirates; Cope 2007, Feulner and Karki 2009).

This species is widespread but very scattered in the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003), including Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP; Feulner 2016), and was recorded in 2018 from Jebel Hafeet (Sakkir et al. 2018). Feulner (2011) found this species at only one site (a spring, 'Ayn as-Sih) in the Ru'us al-Jibal, not in the UAE, but reported the species to be occasional in the Hajar Mountains near springs and seeps, typically among Adiantum capillus-veneris ferns. The species has also been recorded from the base of the waterfall in WWNP. Without detailed locality records (aside from Jebel Hafeet), it has not been possible to estimate the EOO and AOO. The distribution of this species is from the eastern Mediterranean and the Caucuses, through the Arabian Peninsula to eastern Africa, and east to China (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).