<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0502</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>D</submissionType>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <primaryIssuer>
        <cik>0001035443</cik>
        <entityName>ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES INC</entityName>
        <issuerAddress>
            <street1>385 E. COLORADO BLVD</street1>
            <street2>SUITE 299</street2>
            <city>PASADENA</city>
            <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
            <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerPhoneNumber>6265780777</issuerPhoneNumber>
        <issuerPreviousNameList>
            <value>None</value>
        </issuerPreviousNameList>
        <jurisdictionOfInc>MARYLAND</jurisdictionOfInc>
        <entityType>Corporation</entityType>
        <yearOfInc>
            <overFiveYears>true</overFiveYears>
        </yearOfInc>
    </primaryIssuer>

    <relatedPersonsList>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Joel</firstName>
                <middleName>S.</middleName>
                <lastName>Marcus</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Dean</firstName>
                <middleName>A.</middleName>
                <lastName>Shigenaga</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Richard</firstName>
                <middleName>B.</middleName>
                <lastName>Jennings</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>John</firstName>
                <middleName>L.</middleName>
                <lastName>Atkins, III</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Richard</firstName>
                <middleName>H.</middleName>
                <lastName>Klein</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>James</firstName>
                <middleName>H.</middleName>
                <lastName>Richardson</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Martin</firstName>
                <middleName>A.</middleName>
                <lastName>Simonetti</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Alan</firstName>
                <middleName>G.</middleName>
                <lastName>Walton</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>c/o Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc</street1>
                <street2>385 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 299</street2>
                <city>Pasadena</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>91101</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
    </relatedPersonsList>

    <offeringData>
        <industryGroup>
            <industryGroupType>REITS and Finance</industryGroupType>
        </industryGroup>
        <issuerSize>
            <revenueRange>Decline to Disclose</revenueRange>
        </issuerSize>
        <federalExemptionsExclusions>
            <item>06</item>
        </federalExemptionsExclusions>
        <typeOfFiling>
            <newOrAmendment>
                <isAmendment>false</isAmendment>
            </newOrAmendment>
            <dateOfFirstSale>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </dateOfFirstSale>
        </typeOfFiling>
        <durationOfOffering>
            <moreThanOneYear>false</moreThanOneYear>
        </durationOfOffering>
        <typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
            <isOtherType>true</isOtherType>
            <descriptionOfOtherType>Deferred compensation obligations of the issuer pursuant to Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors</descriptionOfOtherType>
        </typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
        <businessCombinationTransaction>
            <isBusinessCombinationTransaction>false</isBusinessCombinationTransaction>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </businessCombinationTransaction>
        <minimumInvestmentAccepted>0</minimumInvestmentAccepted>
        <salesCompensationList></salesCompensationList>
        <offeringSalesAmounts>
            <totalOfferingAmount>127793</totalOfferingAmount>
            <totalAmountSold>127793</totalAmountSold>
            <totalRemaining>0</totalRemaining>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </offeringSalesAmounts>
        <investors>
            <hasNonAccreditedInvestors>false</hasNonAccreditedInvestors>
            <totalNumberAlreadyInvested>1</totalNumberAlreadyInvested>
        </investors>
        <salesCommissionsFindersFees>
            <salesCommissions>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </salesCommissions>
            <findersFees>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </findersFees>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </salesCommissionsFindersFees>
        <useOfProceeds>
            <grossProceedsUsed>
                <dollarAmount>127793</dollarAmount>
            </grossProceedsUsed>
            <clarificationOfResponse>Held by issuer for payments of deferred compensation obligations to participants.</clarificationOfResponse>
        </useOfProceeds>
        <signatureBlock>
            <authorizedRepresentative>false</authorizedRepresentative>
            <signature>
                <issuerName>ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES INC</issuerName>
                <signatureName>/s/ Dean A. Shigenaga</signatureName>
                <nameOfSigner>Dean A. Shigenaga</nameOfSigner>
                <signatureTitle>Chief Financial Officer</signatureTitle>
                <signatureDate>2009-08-11</signatureDate>
            </signature>
        </signatureBlock>
    </offeringData>
</edgarSubmission>
