The US$3 million airport was constructed in 3 months in 2003 to meet the needs of investors to bring equipment and to export crops. It occupies 36 square kilometres, with a main runway of 3500m and an apron that can serve 8 aircraft. A simple terminal building can serve passengers at a rate of 100 per hour. No automatic luggage conveyor is provided inside the terminal.
The Shark El Oweinat non-directional beacon (Ident: OWT) is located just east of the field.[4] The Oweinat non-directional beacon (Ident: ENT) is located 9 nautical miles (17 km) west of the runway.[5]
In August 2009, EgyptAir signed an agreement with a UAE-based agricultural investment firm Janan Investment Company to operate a weekly Sunday flight from the capital's Cairo International Airport to Sharq El Owainat Airport in order to serve the movement of workers and investors to encourage agricultural investment in the region.
The airport is managed under a Build-Operate-Transfer operation. The runway is not equipped with lights for night operation. The airport is in a free trade zone and has facilities for storing and packaging goods for export.
