X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and other techniques have been used to characterize Ni-Mo/Al2O3supported catalysts. The analysis of Mo K-edge spetrum shows that the active species over sulfide catalysts are MoS2-alike and the dispersion of Mo is high at the level of nanometer particles. There may exist some distortion of the local environment of MoS2, which has an influence on the hydrotreating activities of catalysts. Ni K-edge analysis shows that the coordination effects of Ni-Mo favor the dispersion state of active phase and imply a close relationship with catalyst activities.