Single crystals of ytterbium aluminum borate YbAl3(BO3)(4) (YbAB) have been grown by the high-temperature top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The structure of the YbAB crystal has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. It belongs to the space group R32 with unit cell parameters: a = 0.92512 nm, c = 0.71893 nm, Z = 3, V = 0.53284 nm(3), and the density of the crystal is 4.574 g/cm(3). The absorption and fluorescence spectra have been measured at room temperature. The absorption cross-section, emission cross-section and fluorescence lifetime have been estimated as 2.1 x 10(-20), 1.0 x 10(-20) cm(2) and 140 mus respectively, and the results indicate that the crystal is a promising stoichiometric laser material. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.