It is found in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey.

Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas and gardens.

Originally thought to extend as far west as Morocco, it was considered to be a synonym of Eliomys quercinus, the garden dormouse.

Since then, the North African population of E. quercinus has been recognised as a separate species, Eliomys munbyanus, the Maghreb garden dormouse.

Its range extends from northern Libya and Egypt to Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and southern Turkey.

Suitable habitat includes coastal dunes, sandy plateaus, arid steppes, shrubland, subtropical dry woodland, mountainsides, escarpments, rocky areas and limestone cliffs.