Plants caulescent; stems to 20 cm or more long, decumbent, sparsely branched. Leaves 6-7, about 15 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, forming a lax rosette, dark grey-green with numerous white spots; margins with catilaginous teeth; teeth to 1 mm long, 3-5 mm apart. Inflorescences to 25 cm tall, simple, flower bearing portion 3-5 cm, flowers widely spaced; bracts 4-5 mm long, 2 mm wide; pedicels to 10 mm long. Flowers coral red; perianths 20-26 mm long, 7 mm wide across the ovary, outer tepals free for 6-8 mm; anthers exserted about 2.5 mm; stigma exserted about 2.5 mm.
Aloe gillettii grows on rocky limestone slopes with Juniperus in open Commiphora bushland at 1350-1650 m. It is known only from region N3 of the the Flora of Somalia.