ZrO 2 -SBA-15 materials with different ZrO 2 loadings (12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50 wt.%) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of SBA-15 silica with zirconium (IV) n-propoxide solution and characterized by N 2 physisorption, IEP, and XRD. It was found that the dispersion of zirconia in ZrO 2 -SBA-15 samples decreased with ZrO 2 loading. Nevertheless, about 70-90% of the available support surface was covered with deposited ZrO 2 species leading to high zirconia surface, significantly higher than areas of the traditional bulk ZrO 2 supports. ZrO 2 -SBA-15 materials were used to prepare Mo catalysts, which were characterized (N 2 physisorption, XRD, TPR, and HRTEM) and tested in 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Characteristics of Mo species deposited on ZrO 2 -SBA-15 materials with 25-50 wt.% of ZrO 2 and their intrinsic HDS activities were found to be similar to those of the Mo catalyst supported on pure ZrO 2 . Thus, it is shown for the first time that prepared ZrO 2 -SBA-15 materials combine chemical properties of zirconia, attractive for many catalytic applications, with excellent textural characteristics of SBA-15.