The present study is about surface complexation behavior of arsenic species adsorbed onto ternary metal oxide adsorbents (Ni-Al-Fe, Co-Al-Fe, Mn-Al-Fe, and Cu-Al-Fe). The analysis is carried out by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) tool. XANES (mu(E) vs. E) spectra close to the absorption edge (i.e., As K-edge) of all samples are observed along with the As(III) and As(V) standards. The first derivative of XANES for Ni-As(V), and Cu-As(V) samples agree with that of As(V) standards, respectively. Whereas, As(III) adsorbed adsorbent systems (i.e., Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu) are observed with mixed oxidation state of arsenic. A total of 65-85 % is observed with initial oxidation state (As(III) or As(V)), and remaining 15-35 % is observed with modified oxidation state (As(V) or As (III)) that explains the occurrence of possible charge transfer. EXAFS analysis shows the As-O bond distances in the range of 1.7-1.8 angstrom. The corresponding As-M bond distances are around 2.7, 3.2, and 3.6 angstrom which confirms the formation various edge sharing (E-2), and corner sharing (C-2, V-1) surface complexes. Surface coverage is understood as an important parameter as bidentate attachments (E-2, C-2) are evident in As(III), and As(V), but monodentate attachments (V-1) are only observed in As(V).