Brown and Sakkir (2004) cite the species from inland waters of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The draft Red Data Book for UAE plants (MEW 2010) considered this species as a junior synonym of T. arabica, common along the Gulf coast and adjacent to salt flats in the sandy deserts in the south of the Emirates. Jongbloed et al. (2003) considered T. nilotica the valid name with T. arabica a synonym, and gave a distribution along the Arabian Gulf coastline, as well as in sandy desert areas with near-surface brackish water. The species is a Saharo-Sindian element. It occurs from the eastern Mediterranean Greece (especially Crete), Lebanon, Palestine and Israel (Villar et al. 2014), south to Kenya in Africa, and east through the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). The species has been very widely introduced through cultivation.

Within the UAE, it is known to occur in the Hajar Mountains and the Ru'us al-Jibal, where it has been recorded at elevations up to 1,600 m (Feulner 2011, 2014). This species is listed as an introduced landscape plant by MoCCaE (O. Al Shamsi pers. comm. 2018). Globally, this species is native to Africa, tropical and temperature Asia and Western Australia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Widespread within the central desert of the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has been recorded from a range of altitudes, up to c. 1,200 m (Feulner 2011). Also recorded in moist, disturbed grounds (MEW 2010). Its native range is Macaronesia, through the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it occurs in scattered locations throughout oases in the Hajar Mountains and along the east coast (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Africa to the Pacific (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is common and widespread across the UAE in sandy gravelly habitats (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). Globally, the species occurs across North Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, and in Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is generally widespread along the Arabian Gulf coast (Brown et al. 2007). It can be seen south of Abu Dhabi island, at Hatta, Liwa and Jebel Nazwa (G. Brown pers. comm.), in addition to at Jebel Hafeet and its surrounding plain. Globally, its native range spans from the Sahara, through to the Arabian Peninsula and on to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, Jongbloed et al. (2003) reported this species from three scattered localities (Al Ain, Dubai and Ghiyathi). Karim and Dakheel (2006) considered it to be more widespread, with additional records from Dubai and Jebel Ali. Survey data from the Sharjah Seedbank and Herbarium show the species to be relatively widespread in western parts of Dubai Emirate and eastern parts of Sharjah Emirate, along roads. Sakkir and Brown (2014) reported a new record of the species from Jebel Hafeet, commenting that the species has spread into the area due to increasing human encroachment, benefitting from disturbed irrigated areas. A field record from the Dubai Natural History Group (DNHG 2007) found the species to be locally common in the Sharjah desert following winter rains, although generally found only rarely. The global distribution of this species is across north Africa to north-east Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, through the Arabian Peninsula, to Iran (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species has been recorded on the offshore islands of Abu Dhabi (Sakkir et al. 2017), in addition to inland within Abu Dhabi Emirate (S. Sakkir pers. comm 2019). Further information regarding the detailed distribution of this species within the UAE appears to be lacking. The species was not apparently included within Jongbloed et al. (2003) nor the draft Red Data Book for the UAE (MEW 2010). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula and temperate Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it is known to occur from the Ras al-Khaimah to Sharjah Road (Karim and Dakheel 2006), along both the Arabian Gulf and east coasts of the country (MEW 2010). Globally, its native range spans from the eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it occurs along coastal areas including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah (Karim and Dakheel 2006, MEW 2010). The species is becoming more localised on the east coast due to development; a large area has been lost completely over the past decade (G. Brown pers. comm. 2019). It has also been recorded from the offshore islands of Abu Dhabi (Sakkir et al. 2017). Globally, this species is native to the Mediterranean, Macaronesia and parts of Africa, in addition to the Arabian Peninsula and Senegal (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).