[1] The airport is 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Uganda's border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and about 32 kilometres (20 mi) from the border between Uganda and South Sudan.

[3] Arua Airport's strategic location makes Arua Airport an important center for passenger and cargo air traffic between Uganda and its two neighbors, the DRC and South Sudan.

It is also one of five upcountry airports authorized to handle cross-border air traffic from neighboring countries to promote tourism within Eastern Africa.

[10][11] In February 2024, East of Eden Uganda Limited (EOE), a private investment company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Works and Transport to fund, execute and publish a feasibility study to convert Arua Airport into Arua International Airport.

[12] When the report is published and the parties agree on terms, it is expected that EOE will be awarded a concession to develop the international airport under the build–own–operate–transfer (BOOT) public private partnership arrangement.