The NiSO4 supported on Fe2O3 catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. No diffraction line of nickel sulfate was observed up to 30 wt %, indicating good dispersion of nickel sulfate on the surface of Fe2O3. The addition of nickel sulfate to Fe2O3 shifted the phase transition of Fe2O3 (from amorphous to hematite) to higher temperatures because of the interaction between nickel sulfate and Fe2O3. 20-NiSO4/Fe2O3 containing 20 wt % of NiSO4 and calcined at 500 oC exhibited a maximum catalytic activity for ethylene dimerization. The initial product of ethylene dimerization was found to be 1-butene and the initially produced 1-butene was also isomerized to 2-butene during the reaction. The catalytic activities were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by the ammonia chemisorption method.