CuO-CeO 2 catalysts have been proposed as a promising candidate catalytic system for CO removal from reformed fuels via selective oxidation. In this work, the performance of CuO-CeO 2 catalysts, synthesized via the urea–nitrate combustion method, in the reaction of selective CO oxidation in the presence of H 2 has been investigated. The combustion method was found to be a simple and fast route for the synthesis of ultrafine, nanocrystalline CuO-CeO 2 catalysts. The influence of the fuel/oxidant (urea/nitrate) ratio and the Cu content on the catalytic properties of CuO-CeO 2 catalysts has been studied and optimal values of these parameters have been determined. Compared to CuO-CeO 2 catalysts prepared with other techniques, the catalysts prepared via the combustion method exhibited similar catalytic performance, remaining very active and stable, remarkably selective and with good tolerance towards CO 2 and H 2O.