Process for the preparation of an arylglyoxylic acid of the formula Ar--CO--COOH, wherein Ar is optionally substituted aryl, which process comprises oxidizing the corresponding arylethane-1,2-diol of the formula ##STR1## with oxygen or a gas containing molecular oxygen, in an aqueous alkaline medium and in the presence of a platinum-group metal catalyst and, as an activator, a material selected from lead, lead compounds, bismuth and bismuth compounds, at a temperature of up to the boiling point of the reaction mixture; e.g. phenylglyoxylic acid is produced from phenylethane-1,2-glycol preferably using platinum activated with lead, bismuth, or compounds thereof.