The invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream comprising natural gas or inert gas and mercaptans, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a first gas stream comprising natural gas or inert gas and mercaptans with a hydrodesulphurization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a hydrodesulphurization unit to obtain a second gas stream comprising natural gas or inert gas, which is depleted of mercaptans and enriched in H2S; (b) removing H2S from the second gas stream comprising natural gas or inert gas in a H2S removal unit to obtain a purified gas stream comprising natural gas or inert gas, which is depleted of mercaptans.