A metallic tube for heating a medium or subject outside thereof or inside it by transfer of heat energy through walls of the tube, in which heat is absorbed or emitted at least to a substantial degree by radiation on one or both of the inner and outer surfaces of the tube, is of a material forming a layer of essentially Al2O3 on the surfaces thereof when heated to at least approximately 750° C. At least one of the external and the internal surface of the tube is coated by one of a metal, metal alloy and metal compound, which after oxidation forms a layer having an emissivity coefficient exceeding 0.7, or by a layer essentially consisting of a metal oxide which has an emissivity coefficient exceeding 0.7.