The Rise and Risks of Alternative Assets

08 Aug 2026: Luxury watches, fine art, rare collectibles and classic cars are increasingly being considered alternative stores of wealth as investors look beyond traditional safe havens. But protecting these assets is not always straightforward. Kapil Sharma, Senior Vice President of Sales at Continental Group, joins us to discuss how high-value collectibles are insured, the challenges surrounding valuations and the coverage gaps owners may not realise exist. Meanwhile, Wynn Resorts is pressing ahead with plans to hire 2,500 employees for its $5.7 billion UAE resort, despite its opening being pushed back to September 2027. Nathan Kearney, Managing Director of Executive Search, joins us to discuss what the recruitment drive says about confidence in the UAE hospitality sector and the growing divide in the wider jobs market. Plus, we look at some of the weird and wonderful ways businesses are trying to beat the summer slowdown, including a rooftop sauna, ice baths and unlimited ice cream. Emilie Hill from Context Studio takes us through some of the offers and considers whether these summer deals are here to stay or are simply a way for businesses to get customers through the door. And finally, DIFC is opening up its special purpose vehicle regime, removing previous eligibility restrictions and making the structures available to a much wider pool of applicants. Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer at DIFC Authority, tells us what the regulatory changes involve.

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