Ammonia　is　a　carbon-free　and　hydrogen-rich　energy　carrier　with　high　volumetric　energy　density　and　easy　liquefaction　storage.　It　is　an　ideal　hydrogen　storage　medium.　Transforming　chemical　energy　in　ammonia　into　electrical　energy　directly　by　ammonia　oxidation　reaction　(AOR)　in　low-temperature　alkaline　exchange　membrane　fuel　cells　(AEMFCs)　is　an　ideal　way　for　efficient　utilization　of　ammonia.　However,　the　NH3-AEMFCs　are　far　away　from　the　commercial　application　due　to　its　low　performance,　which　is　limited　by　slow　kinetics　in　AOR,　high　price　of　noble　metals,　catalyst　poisoning　and　poor　stability.　It　posts　the　significance　of　developing　efficient,　cheap　and　robust　catalysts　to　achieve　satisfied　performance　in　low-temperature　NH3-AEMFCs.　Herein,　we　firstly　give　a　brief　introduction　of　current　status　on　understanding　the　fundamentals　in　AOR　and　then　summarize　the　recent　progress　in　the　development　of　noble　and　non-noble　metallic　catalysts　towards　AOR.　Based　on　the　in-depth　understanding　of　the　reaction　mechanism,　the　performance　of　NH3-AEMFCs　was　further　summarized　and　discussed.　Finally,　the　R&D　direction　and　prospect　of　catalyst　design　for　AOR　and　NH3-AEMFCs　are　proposed.　©　2022　Chemical　Industry　Press.　All　rights　reserved.