The combustion process was applied to synthesize the LiAlO2 powder with high specific surface area and pure crystalline ${gamma}$-phase. For the combustion synthesis of LiAlO2 which is a binary-component oxide in-cluding lithium and aluminum ions the mixture of citric acid and urea with stoichiometric composition was selected as a promising fuel. The highest combustion temperature was measured in the reaction using the mixed fuel with a stoichiometric composition. The synthesized powder was very fine and its specific surface area was more than 15 m2/g.