Nearby localities include Kafr Batna and Saqba to the south, Zamalka and Ein Tarma to the southwest, and Douma to the north.

During the Syrian civil war, FSA took control of a number of suburbs north of the capital Damascus, including Arbin on 2 July 2012.

FSA fighters reportedly openly patrolled the streets of the suburbs, and clashes occurred less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the center of Damascus city itself.

[3] In 2017–18, during the government siege of eastern Ghouta, Arbin was one of the towns targeted in multiple airstrikes by Syrian and Russian aircraft, for instance on 4 January 2018.

[4] In the end of March 2018, the Syrian army imposed their control over the area of Eastern Ghouta including Arbin.