The design elements have multiple symbolic meanings:
- The blue field represents the sky, the sea, peace, hope, Aruba's future and its ties to the past.
- The two narrow stripes "suggest the movement toward status aparte".The other "industry, all the minerals (gold and phosphates in the past, petroleum in the early 20th century)". In addition to sun, gold, and abundance, the yellow is also said to represent wanglo flowers.
- The star has particularly complex symbolism:
It is vexillologically unusual in having four points, representing the four cardinal directions. These refer in turn to the many countries of origin of the people of Aruba.
The star also represents the island itself: a land of often red soil bordered by white beaches in a blue sea.
The red colour also represents blood shed by Arubans, the Indian inhabitants, during the French pass war; patriotic love.
The white also represents purity, honesty and the white beaches of Aruba.
There is also a standard for use by the Governor of Aruba in his capacity as representative of the Monarch of the Netherlands. It consists of a white field, with the flag of the Netherlands stripped across both the top and the bottom, and a circular version of the flag of Aruba in the centre.