A light emitting element is provided with a semiconductor layer having a light emitting layer and an uneven surface, and a transparent material formed on the uneven surface. The transparent material has a refractive index lower than a sapphire substrate. Alternatively, a light emitting element is provided with a semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer, and a transparent high-refractive index material layer formed on a light radiation surface of the semiconductor layer. The light emitting element is of a flip-chip type, and the transparent high-refractive index material layer has a refractive index of n=1.6 or more.