We report the results of first-principles theoretical calculations for the electronic structure of aluminate nanotubes. A tubular structure in the form of AlO2 is energetically stable and exhibits metallic conduction. Due to weak interactions between Li atoms and nanotubes, Li doping does not alter the stability of AlO2 nanotubes and only increases the Fermi level. On the other hand, stable AlO nanotubes can be obtained by hole doping with Be and Mg impurities. ? 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd.