Nickel incorporated MCM-41-like mesoporous materials, which were synthesized following a one-pot hydrothermal route, were promoted by Ru and Mg in order to improve their catalytic performances for dry reforming of methane. In this study, Ni-MCM-41 based catalysts (with a Ni/Si molar ratio of 0.2), containing different amounts of Ru (0.5-3.0 wt%) and Mg (1 and 5 wt%) were prepared by using sequential impregnation of Ru and Mg into Ni-MCM-41. Dry reforming of methane was studied in a tubular flow reactor in the temperature range of 500-600 degrees C with different CH(4)/CO(2) ratios in the feed stream. Quite high hydrogen yield values and improved stability of these catalysts indicated the promoting effects of Ru for the Ni-MCM-41 type catalysts. Ru incorporation (1.0% Ru) was shown to improve H(2) yields. Mg impregnation into 1.0Ru@Ni-MCM-41 improved catalytic performance by increasing CH(4) conversion and decreasing the contribution of reverse water gas shift reaction, especially at initial times (first 60 min). Coke formation by decomposition of CH(4) contributed to the hydrogen selectivity, but did not cause significant change in catalytic performance, especially at longer reaction times. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.