This species is widespread in the sandy desert region of the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003), including Jebel Hafeet (Sakkir and Brown 2014). Globally, the species is native to northern Africa and Asia-Temperate (Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan) (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is restricted to the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003), where it is widespread but uncommon (Feulner 2016), the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011), and Jebel Hafeet (coll. <a href=""http://purl.oclc.org/net/edu.harvard.huh/guid/uuid/8111c8f6-4643-4c41-9e0e-40a4af264402"">W. Thesiger, 1948</a>; Wadi Tarabat; Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012). In the Ru'us al-Jibal, the species is occasional, from c. 800 to 1,250 m asl (Feulner 2011). The species is absent from Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP) according to Feulner (2016; only found in the upper parts of Wadi Siji) but was reported for the protected area by Judas (2016). The species has also been recorded (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium) from Fili on the Sharjah-Kalba Road (Sharjah) and from the coast in Ras Al Khaimah, however both these records are excluded as outside the natural range of the species in the UAE. The global range of this species is from north-east Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula to southern Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded from the Hajar Mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species occurs from the eastern Mediterranean to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species occurs among rocks in the Hajar Mountains including the Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016) and the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011, Gairola et al. 2017). It is considered to be widespread within this area (Feulner 2011). Typically, this species can be encountered at moderate elevations (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs on the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

This species occurs in the East of the country, especially on alluvial plains of the southern Hajar mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has been recorded in the Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016) and also once in Ru'us al-Jibal mountains (Feulner 2011). Globally, this species occurs in the Middle East, Central Asia and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is widespread across the eastern half of the UAE, north of the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road, although it is less common in the mountains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It occurs in Jebel Hafeet (Wadi Tarabat; Sakkir and Brown 2014). The global range of this species is across northern and central parts of Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Plants of the World Online also lists occurrence in Ecuador as native.

Within the UAE, it is common and widespread throughout inland sandy regions across the entire country (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species is native to countries within the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). According to the outcome of the UAE National Red List Workshop (15th-19th September 2019, Dubai), records of Tribulus omanense within the UAE are considered within Tribulus arabicus. This is due to the species material for T. omanense being described a year after T. arabicus by Hadidi, despite the identification appearing to use the same type material. T. omanense was described as occurring throughout the south of the UAE, in sandy areas.

Western (1991) considered this species to mostly occur in the Western Region bordering Qatar and Saudi Arabia, whilst MEW (2010) considered the species to be widespread along the Arabian Gulf coast and on sandy and gravelly plains in the northern Emirates. Jongbloed et al. (2003) show a coastal distribution in western and central areas, but extending inland to Jebel Hafeet and east to the east coast of the UAE. According to comments from the UAE National Red List Workshop (15^th-19^th September 2019, Dubai), here, we consider T. qatarensis to have a coastal distribution in addition to being a separate species to T. mandavillei and T. hamiensis. The species has been recorded for Jebel Hafeet (Stuart and Stuart 1998), however Brown et al. (2007) considered the subpopulation there to be distinct, as Zygophyllum cf. migahadii; Feulner (2014) considered the species present on Jebel Hafeet to be T. migahadii, but T. qatarensis to be present to the base of the mountain. Alzahrani and Albokhari (2017, 2018) give the global distribution as Saudi Arabia (eastern region and north-central areas), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Socotra, Yemen and Iraq.

Within the UAE, it is described as widespread across the Hajar Mountain range (MEW 2010). It is known to occur within Al Ain, Dubai, Shwayb, Madam and Dhaid (Karim and Dakheel 2006). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses the Canary Islands, Mauritania, the Mediterranean, northeast tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the UAE, this species is widespread in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal from c. 200 m asl (Jongbloed et al. 2003) to at least 1,100 m (Feulner 2011). Records include Wadi Shih and Wadi Hayl (Khor Fakhan; Aspinal et al. 1995), and it occurs in Wadi Wurayah National Park (Feulner 2016), south to Wadi Hatta. Globally, this species occurs from north-east Africa and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).