YAl3(BO3)4 crystals doped with Sm3+ were grown from potassium trimolybdate flux. Their absorption and emission spectra were measured at room temperature. The Judd-Ofelt parametrization scheme has been applied to the analysis of the room temperature absorption spectra. The emission decay profiles were measured at 77 and 298 K on differently concentrated crystals in order to obtain information on the excited states dynamics. The calculated radiative lifetime of the 4G5/2 state is 2.3 ms, and it is reasonably consistent with the experimental results. The analysis of the concentration and temperature effects on the decay curves allowed a reliable understanding of the energy transfer processes responsible for the non radiative decay of the emitting excited level in the investigated material.