Release of dyes in water from industrial waste has been increasing and poses significant environmental and health issues due to their noxious and pervasive effects. Numerous processes have been reported for the degradation of dyes, among them advanced oxidation process with semiconductor nanoparticles stood out as an effective method for the degradation of dyes or other harmful contaminants. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), being a wide-band gap semiconductor, have garnered attention as a photocatalyst due to its high photosensitivity, stability, and affordability. In spite of this, the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO is limited by rapid charge carrier recombination. To overcome these limitations, different doping techniques have been reported to modify the nanoparticles, which increases the photocatalytic efficiency towards dye degradation. Metal ion-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have gained significant research interest due to their enhanced physical and chemical properties. The incorporation of metal ions into the ZnO lattice structure alters its optical, structural, and photocatalytic characteristics, making it more effective for various applications. This study discusses advancements in the synthesis of metal ion-doped ZnO nanoparticles using different techniques. The addition of metal dopants influences key factors such as band gap tuning, charge carrier separation, morphology, stability, surface properties, and catalytic efficiency. These modified nanoparticles show promising potential in environmental applications, particularly for water purification and pollutant removal. This review highlights recent developments and future directions for Ce-doped ZnO nanoparticles in degrading toxic dyes through advanced oxidation processes, such as photocatalytic degradation.