In　this　study,　with　the　purpose　to　obtain　more　efficient　catalysts　for　methane　dry　reforming,　an　Mg-Al-O　support　having　excess　MgO　and　higher　alkalinity　than　pure　MgAl2O4　spinel　support　have　been　designed　and　used　to　prepare　Ni/Mg-Al-O　catalysts.　XRD　has　demonstrated　that　this　support　consists　of　both　MgO　and　MgAl2O4　spinel　phases.　As　a　result,　Ni/Mg-Al-O　displays　better　reaction　performance　than　Ni/MgAl2O4　and　Ni/Al2O3　catalysts.　With　the　promotion　by　Ce　and　Nd　oxides,　the　Ni　dispersion　and　the　surface　active　oxygen　amount　can　be　significantly　improved,　which　results　in　more　active　and　stable　catalysts　with　also　significantly　improved　coking　resistance.　It　is　revealed　that　the　active　metallic　Ni　surface　area,　surface　alkalinity　and　active　oxygen　abundance　are　the　major　factors　deciding　the　reaction　performance　of　the　Ni/Mg-Al-O　catalysts.　Because　of　the　optimal　concerted　action　of　these　factors,　Ni-Ce/Mg-Al-O,　the　sample　promoted　by　ceria,　displays　the　best　reaction　performance　among　all　the　catalysts.