MgAl2O4:Eu3+ red-light emitting powder phosphor was prepared at temperature as low as 500 oC within a few minutes by using the combustion route. The prepared powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. The luminescence of Eu3+-activated MgAl2O4 shows a strong red emission dominant peak around 611 nm, which can be attributed to the 5D0-7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions from the synthesized phosphor particles under excitation (394 nm). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements at the X-band showed that no signal could be attributed to Eu2+ ions in MgAl2O4.