A high efficiency nickel-based catalyst was developed for catalytic hydrogenation of furfural from biomass platform molecule to furfuryl alcohol in the absence of hydrogen. Three kinds of NiAl catalysts were prepared by different preparation methods, and the catalytic performance of the catalysts was investigated in the hydrogenation of furfural (FAL) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL). The physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were systematically studied by XRD, H2-TPR, TEM, NH3-TPR and XPS. The catalyst NiAl-HT prepared by hydrothermal method has larger specific surface area, abundant acidic sites, uniform distribution of Ni nanoparticles, and strong interaction between the Ni and AlOx supports, which results in the excellent catalytic performance of NiAl-HT in FAL transfer hydrogenation reaction. Under the optimized conditions, 140 oC , 0.5 Mpa nitrogen pressure and 60 min reaction time, the conversion of FAL and FOL selectivity are both as high as 99.9%.