The PERE Asia Summit 2026 opened amid global turmoil as US-Israel attacks on Iran disrupted travel and attendance. The conflict, following geopolitical tensions in Latin America and Europe, created heightened uncertainty for private real estate executives. BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts global head Isabelle Scemama emphasized that traditional diversification strategies are no longer sufficient in today's volatile market.

Executives at the Singapore conference identified both geopolitical conflicts and AI as the primary risks facing the industry. The market dislocation has made investment risks highly visible while creating opportunities that require more careful discernment. PIMCO Prime Real Estate CEO Francois Trausch highlighted the importance of portfolio diversification including needs-based real estate and credit strategies to maintain "income resiliency" through long-term, inflation-linked cashflows.

Industry leaders stressed that effective risk management now demands granular diversification within asset classes and sub-asset classes, not just across them. Goodwin Gaw of Gaw Capital Partners noted the proliferation of conflicts creates demand for multiple safe havens across different regions. The consensus among executives is clear: in an era of elevated volatility, protecting investments requires both wider and more detailed hedging strategies than ever before.