A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene comprising steps of: (a) reacting the alkene with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to produce a gas composition comprising alkylene oxide, alkene, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour, and removing contaminants from the gas composition; (b) supplying the gas composition from (a) to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column, supplying lean absorbent to the alkylene oxide absorber, contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the alkylene oxide absorber in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis, and withdrawing fat absorbent from the alkylene oxide absorber, wherein the lean absorbent comprises at least 20 wt% and less than 80 wt% water, wherein the temperature in the alkylene oxide absorber is from 80 °C to 150 °C, and wherein at least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber; (c) optionally supplying a portion or all of the fat absorbent from step (b) to one or more finishing reactors and withdrawing a product stream from the one or more finishing reactors, wherein at least 90% of alkylene oxide and alkylene carbonate entering the one or more finishing reactors is converted to alkylene glycol in the one or more finishing reactors; (d) optionally supplying the fat absorbent from step (b) or a product stream from at least one of the one or more finishing reactors in step (c) to a flash vessel and removing light ends; (e) supplying the fat absorbent from step (b) or (d), or the product stream from step (c) or (d) to a dehydrator, removing water and providing a dehydrated product stream; and (f) purifying the dehydrated product stream from step (e) and providing a purified alkylene glycol product stream. (a) reacting the alkene with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to produce a gas composition comprising alkylene oxide, alkene, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour, and removing contaminants from the gas composition; (b) supplying the gas composition from (a) to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column, supplying lean absorbent to the alkylene oxide absorber, contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the alkylene oxide absorber in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis, and withdrawing fat absorbent from the alkylene oxide absorber, wherein the lean absorbent comprises at least 20 wt% and less than 80 wt% water, wherein the temperature in the alkylene oxide absorber is from 80 °C to 150 °C, and wherein at least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber; (c) optionally supplying a portion or all of the fat absorbent from step (b) to one or more finishing reactors and withdrawing a product stream from the one or more finishing reactors, wherein at least 90% of alkylene oxide and alkylene carbonate entering the one or more finishing reactors is converted to alkylene glycol in the one or more finishing reactors; (d) optionally supplying the fat absorbent from step (b) or a product stream from at least one of the one or more finishing reactors in step (c) to a flash vessel and removing light ends; (e) supplying the fat absorbent from step (b) or (d), or the product stream from step (c) or (d) to a dehydrator, removing water and providing a dehydrated product stream; and (f) purifying the dehydrated product stream from step (e) and providing a purified alkylene glycol product stream.