The previous studies indicate that the fabrication of metal matrix composites (MMCs) by cold spraying is effective and promising. When light materials, such as SiC and Al 2 O 3 , were used as reforcements, it is difficult to obtain a high volume fraction of hard phase in the composite just through the simple powder mixture. Therefore, in this study, a Ni-coated Al 2 O 3 powder, which was produced through hydrothermal hydrogen reduction method, was employed aiming at increasing the volume fraction of ceramic particles in the deposited composite coating. It was found that a dense Ni-Al 2 O 3 composite coating could be deposited with the Ni-coated Al 2 O 3 powder under the present spray conditions. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the composite coating had the same phase structures as the feedstock. The volume fraction of Al 2 O 3 in the composite was about 29±6%, which is less than that in the feedstock (nominal: 40-45%) due to the rebound of some Al 2 O 3 particulates upon kinetic impacting. The microhardness of the composite coating was about 173±33Hv 0.2 .