The direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas is catalyzed by bifunctional catalysts: the hydrogenation function that catalyzes the methanol formation and the dehydration function to produce dimethyl ether from methanol. Bifunctional catalysts with Cu, Zn and Al as hydrogenation component and Hferrierite zeolite as dehydration component had been synthesized. It was evaluated the method of preparation, the influence of aluminum present in the hydrogenation component and dehydration/hydrogenation component ratio. The coprecipitating impregnation and coprecipitating sedimentation methods were used to form the precursor of hydrogenation component. The catalysts had been characterized by atomic absorption, thermal gravimetry analysis, N2 adsorption, xrays diffraction, TPR, ammonia TPD, hydrogen TPD and transmission electronic microscopy. It was verified that the bifunctional catalyst lost 50 percent of its pore volume. The results of x-rays identified the formation of aurichalcite, hydrozincite, malachite and rosacite phases in the catalyst based on Cu and Zn. However, in the catalyst based on Cu, Zn and Al (for an atomic ratio, Cu/Zn/Al:55/30/15) only the hidrotalcite phase was found. It was observed that the aluminum introduction in the hydrogenation component favors the formation of very small particles of CuO as verified in transmission electronic microscopy and x-rays diffraction. The NH3-TPD identified the presence of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites that still remain in the H-ferrierite after the preparation of the bifunctional catalysts. Bronsted acid sites had an importante decrease in the bifunctional catalysts when it is prepared by the method of coprecipitating impregnation. The catalytic tests showed that the catalysts prepared by the coprecipitating sedimentation method, present higher conversions and DME selectivitys than the prepared by coprecipitating impregnation. The presence of Al in the hydrogenation component doesn`t improve the catalytic activity. It can be concluded that the H-ferrierite is an excellent dehydration component for its high acidity and that the methanol synthesis can be limitant in the process of direct synthesis of DME from syngas.