Complexation of Al-III by 8-hydroxyquinoline and fluorescence behavior of the quinolinate(s) were studied in reverse micellar systems at low water content, and compared to aqueous media. Two surfactants were used : one was cationic (CTAC : cetyltrimethylammonium chloride) and the other was anionic (AOT : sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate). The results obtained in the CTAC/dichloromethane system (W = [H2O]/[surfactant] = 0.9) showed that complexation occurred very likely in the oil phase and no micellar effect was observed. On the contrary, in the presence of AOT, specific micellar effects were observed due to the presence of the anionic polar heads : stabilization of the positively charged 1:1 and 1:2 chelates, at the expense of the neutral water-insoluble 1:3 chelate which is formed in aqueous solutions under similar conditions; drastic fluorescence enhancement factors of 120 and 100 in AOT/heptane (W = 1.5) and AOT/dichloromethane (W = 1.6), respectively. Such factors have never been reported so far in either hydroorganic or direct micellar systems. In return, the length of time for the production of the complex(es) is increased because of the microheterogeneity of the medium and the small sizes of the water pools.