Aon applies for Qatar license

DOHA, Qatar—Aon Corp. is applying for a license to operate from the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority and expects to open an office there later this year.

"The Middle East and in particular Qatar will be one of the fastest-growing regions in the world over the next few years," said Roelof Hendriks, chief executive officer of Aon EMEA, said in a statement. Massive investments in infrastructure and natural resources projects along with strong demographic growth are increasing demand for insurance products in the region, he said.

The Aon office in Qatar is expected to open in late 2007, A. Latif Al Rayes, Manama, Bahrain-based chief executive officer of Aon's middle east region, pointed out in the statement.