In　the　present　study,　Mg-9Al/MWCNTs　(multi-walled　carbon　nanotubes)　composites　were　synthesized　using　the　technique　of　powder　metallurgy　followed　by　hot　extrusion.　MWCNTs　were　dispersed　in　Mg-9Al　matrix　using　an　ionic　gemini　dispersant.　Microstructural　characterization　studies　revealed　that　MWCNTs　can　be　individually　dispersed　with　no　structural　damage.　Matrix-MWCNT　was　found　to　be　excellent　(absence　of　voids　and　debonding).　Results　further　revealed　that　the　addition　of　MWCNTs　significantly　affected　the　size　of　Mg17Al12　phase,　which　decreased　from　micron　to　nano　length　scale.　The　tensile　test　results　revealed　that　the　elongation　and　ultimate　tensile　strength　of　Mg-9Al　composite　with　0.4　wt　%　MWCNTs　content　were　15%　and　355　MPa,　respectively,　showing　150%　and　18%　enhancement　in　comparison　to　Mg-9Al　alloy.　The　remarkably　enhanced　mechanical　properties　were　mainly　attributed　to　the　uniformly　distributed　nanoscale　Mg17Al12　s　phase　in　composite　and　the　excellent　interface　bonding　between　MWCNTs　and　matrix.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.