We report, for the first time on luminescence from a Er 3+ doped SrAl 2 O 4 phosphor. Effects of Eu 3+ doping were also studied. The influence of rare-earth doping in crystal structure and its optical properties were analysed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, optical absorption, excitation and emission (PL) spectroscopy, thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Luminescence spectra and luminescence decay curves for Er 3+ transitions in the near infrared region were recorded. The PL maximum for Eu doped SrAl 2 O 4 is obtained at 620nm and corresponds to the orange region of the spectrum. Diffraction patterns reveal a dominant phase, characteristic of the monoclinic SrAl 2 O 4 compound and the presence of dopants has no effect on the basic crystal structure of SrAl 2 O 4 . The shapes of the glow curves are different for each dopant irradiated with either a 90 Sr– 90 Y beta source, or UV light at 311nm, and in detail the TL signals differ somewhat between Er and Eu dopants.