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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EPqHAlmYhG0ONt8is+TvSclrBJr3zPxUhfOFeCpWjSPOCg7eZkOL3uuikgq6HeHo
 SkFcHA4+W+c0lJlEkadNbw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001274646-08-000001.txt : 20080229
<SEC-HEADER>0001274646-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080229
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080229152132
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001274646-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080229

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035443
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				954502084
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		385 E. COLORADO BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 299
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6265780777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		385 E. COLORADO BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 299
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KLEIN RICHARD HUNTER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001274646

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12993
		FILM NUMBER:		08655246

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE ESQUIRES INC
		STREET 2:		135 N, LOS ROBLES AVE #250
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6265760777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE ESQUIRES INC
		STREET 2:		135 N. ROBLES AVE #250
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035443</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>are</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLEIN RICHARD HUNTER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE ESQUIRES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>385 E. COLORADO BLVD. SUITE 299</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>94.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric Steiner (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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