A light emitting element includes an n-side nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer disposed on the n-side nitride semiconductor layer and including a plurality of nitride semiconductor well layers and a plurality of nitride semiconductor barrier layers, the active layer being configured to emit ultraviolet light; and a p-side nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer. At least one of the plurality of barrier layers including, successively from the n-side nitride semiconductor layer side, a first barrier layer containing Al and Ga, and a second barrier layer disposed in contact with the first barrier layer, containing Al, Ga, and In, and having a smaller band gap energy than the first barrier layer. At least one of the plurality of well layers is disposed in contact with a second barrier layer and has a smaller band gap energy than the second barrier layer.