An MSM ultraviolet ray receiving element has a low dark state current value and a good photosensitivity. The MSM ultraviolet ray receiving element has a first nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate, a second nitride semiconductor layer on the first nitride semiconductor layer, and first and second electrodes on the second nitride semiconductor layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer contains AlXGa(1-X)N (0.4≤X≤0.90). The second nitride semiconductor layer contains AlYGa(1-Y)N with a film thickness t (nm) satisfying 5≤t≤25. The first electrode and the second electrode contain a material containing at least three elements of Ti, Al, Au, Ni, V, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Nb, Zn, Ag, Cr, and Zr. Al composition ratios X and Y and a film thickness t satisfy −0.009×t+X+0.22−0.03≤Y≤−0.009×t+X+0.22+0.03.