Background: The rotary dehumidifier's performance largely depends on the desiccant used in the wheel. Composite desiccants are the state-of-the-art sorption agents used in adsorption dehumidifiers as they have higher moisture uptake capacity than pure physical desiccants. Different types of composite desiccants used in rotary dehumidifiers are mainly of four kinds Silica-gel based, Mesoporous silicate-based, natural-rock based, and carbon-based. A review of work done in the past with these desiccants has been reviewed in this paper. The selection of composite desiccant material for dehumidifiers depends not solely on any one parameter but various. Surface properties like specific surface area, pore volume, and the desiccant's pore size have also been proved as vital parameters in the performance of the dehumidifiers and the higher adsorption capacity. Surface properties and operating parameters like the temperature of adsorption and desorption for different composite desiccants were summarized in this paper which will help the new researchers to analyse other composite desiccants. Composite desiccants regenerated well below 100 ᴼC will gain more attention from researchers in the coming years as solar energy prevails compared to conventional heat sources.