The present invention provides a process for the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulphide contained in a hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon feed gas to elemental sulphur. The hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon feed gas and a sulphur dioxide-containing gas are supplied to a reaction zone containing a TiO2-comprising catalyst, wherein elemental sulphur and a gaseous stream depleted in hydrogen sulphide are formed. The gas feeds are contacted with the TiO2 containing catalyst at elevated pressure and at a temperature in the range of from 120 and below 160 ° C., under such conditions that the elemental sulphur formed is essentially in liquid form. At least part of the sulphur dioxide-containing gas is obtained by combusting elemental sulphur to obtain a gaseous mixture of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen and then concentrating the gaseous mixture to provide the sulphur dioxide-containing gas.