On the basis of the adsorption of spillover H, H 2 O, and CO 2 , and their related surface dehydrations, the mechanism of γ-Al 2 O 3 in CO 2 reforming of CH 4 is studied at the level of density functional theory. On the dry γ-Al 2 O 3 (100) surface, the most favored surface dehydration is the surface OH from either surface bicarbonate (CO 3 + H f HCO 3 ; HCO 3 f CO 2 + OH) or surface carboxy (CO 2 + H f COOH; COOH f CO + OH) dissociation. On the γ-Al 2 O 3 (110) surface, dehydration of the hydroxylated surface is most favorable. Compared with the highest CH 4 dissociation barrier on Ni(111) and Ni(211) in CO 2 reforming of CH 4 on Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst, the first step CH 4 dissociation (CH 4 f CH 3 + H) on γ-Al 2 O 3 (100) should be the ratedetermining step, while dehydration of the hydroxylated γ-Al 2 O 3 (110) surface should determine the overall reaction rate.