Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (ECO2RR), a pivotal process converting CO2 into high-value products, plays a crucial role in advancing objectives of carbon neutrality. Within various catalysts, copper-based electrocatalysts hold a unique position as they demonstrate a remarkable aptitude for producing high-carbon (C2 + ) products. Notably, the well-established Cu+ sites exhibit robust C-C coupling capabilities, particularly in the synthesis of C2H4 products. However, the challenge lies in maintaining the stability of oxide-derived copper under the negative potential operating conditions. In light of this, we use the ion exchange principle to make Al partially replace Cu-BDC, and then get a dopant by high temperature calcination to prepare Al-doped CuO catalyst. It has been demonstrated that the introduction of oxyphilic Al atoms could induce the redistribution of electrons in the CuO matrix and stabilize the presence of Cu+ in the ECO2RR process. This configuration significantly enhances the catalytic performance of CuO for electrochemically converting CO2 into C2H4. Specifically, the optimized Al-CuO catalyst exhibits a faradaic efficiency for C2H4 (FEC2H4) of ∼ 50 % at −1.377 V vs. RHE, doubling the performance compared to pure CuO. The design and implementation of doping engineering presented in this work propel advancements in the field of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction for C2H4 production, offering a crucial avenue for the development of efficient catalysts.