Abstract: A high cerium-containing dehydrogenation catalyst of alkyl aromatic compounds used in industrial scale, including iron oxide and potassium oxide, having improved physical strength of catalyst pellets, and a method for producing the catalyst, and the dehydrogenation method using the catalyst are disclosed. In producing high cerium-containing pellets by using a dehydrogenation catalyst including iron oxide and potassium oxide, cerium carbonate hydroxide or a mixture of cerium carbonate hydroxide and other cerium compounds is used as a cerium source to produce catalytic pellets having improved physical strength.