A process for adiabatic, non-oxidative dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons including passing a hydrocarbon feed stream through a catalyst bed, wherein the catalyst bed includes a first layer of a catalyst and second layer of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst of the first layer has high activity but a higher capacity for producing coke than the catalyst of the second layer and the second catalyst also has high activity but a lower capacity for producing coke than the catalyst of the first layer.