A series of catalysts, NiO/$CeO_2-ZrO_2/WO_3$, for ethylene dimerization was prepared by the precipitation and impregnation methods. For NiO/$CeO_2-ZrO_2/WO_3$ sample, no diffraction line of nickel oxide was observed up to 40 wt%, indicating good dispersion of nickel oxide on the surface of catalyst. The hexagonal and monoclinic phases of $WO_3$ up to the calcination temperature of 500 ${^{circ}C}$ were observed, whereas the hexagonal phase of WO3 completely was transformed into monoclinic phase of $WO_3$ at 600 ${^{circ}C}$ and above. The role of $CeO_2$ in the catalysts was to form a thermally stable solid solution with zirconia and consequently to give high surface area and acidity. The catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by the ammonia chemisorption method. 25-NiO/5-$CeO_2-ZrO_2/15-WO_3$ containing 25 wt% NiO, 15 wt% $WO_3$ and 5 mol% $CeO_2$, and calcined at 400 ${^{circ}C}$ exhibited a maximum catalytic activity due to the effects of $WO_3$ modifying and $CeO_2$ doping.