Licuala ahlidurii was only described in 1997. The species has a very restricted distribution. It is only known from Bukit Bauk Forest Reserve, Terengganu and nowhere else in the world, i.e. it is endemic to this particular forest reserve. Here it completely dominates the forest floor. In Bukit Bauk, the species grows sometimes sympatrically with six other Licualas, L. glabra, L. bayana, L. ferruginea, L. khoonmengii, L. terengganuensis and L. malajana, making the locality one of the richest diversity for Licuala in the world.

Licuala ahlidurii has very variable frond dissection, with the mid-segment slightly larger that the rest of the segments to individuals with large mid-segments and very narrow lateral segments. This makes the species particularly attractive for ornamental display. The species was named in honour of Dr. John Dransfield as an expert in thorny palms (i.e. in Malay ahli duri).