In a dehydrogenation process a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one non-aromatic six-membered ring compound and at least one five-membered ring compound is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst produced by a method comprising treating the support with a liquid composition comprising the dehydrogenation component or a precursor thereof and at least one organic dispersant selected from an amino alcohol and an amino acid. The contacting is conducted under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the at least one non-aromatic six-membered ring compound in the hydrocarbon stream to benzene and to convert at least a portion of the at least one five-membered ring compound in the hydrocarbon stream to paraffins.