The corrosion properties of four Mg–5Al alloys with M-alloying elements (tin, manganese and zinc) in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution were examined using electrochemical tests and surface analyses. The electrochemical results indicated that the addition of 1 wt.% M metal decreased the corrosion rate and hydrogen evolution rate of the Mg–5Al specimens. Moreover, the addition of 1Zn resulted in having the best corrosion resistance due to the interaction of Zn oxide with Mg and Al oxides which acted as a corrosion barrier.