Process for the preparation of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide in which all or part of the liquid ammonia needed for the process is supplied to the high-pressure scrubber in such a way that it is in direct contact with the other streams supplied to this scrubber. In particular in such a way that there is direct contact between the liquid ammonia and the off-gases transferred to the high-pressure scrubber from the urea synthesis reactor. More in particular in such a way that there is direct contact between the liquid ammonia and the off-gases transferred to the high-pressure scrubber from the urea reactor and with the carbamate stream, which is transferred from the low-pressure urea recovery section.