Scale
The plants have about 18 crude stabilisation units and stabilise roughly half of Saudi Arabia's daily oil production, according to Aramco.
Abqaiq · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone Distributor in Abqaiq
Abqaiq is a town in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, about 60 km south-west of the Dhahran-Dammam-Khobar area. It hosts Aramco's Abqaiq Plants, described by Aramco as the world's largest crude stabilisation plant, which removes hydrogen sulphide from crude, creating Zone 1 areas. An Ex-proof smartphone distributor in Abqaiq would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicEx-proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereAbqaiq
Short answer. Abqaiq has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for Abqaiq
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ex marking | Group, category, protection concept, gas group, temperature class | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 (target) |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC matched to the area drawing | IIC (target) |
| Temperature class | T-class below the ignition temperature of the gas | T4, 135 °C (target) |
| Where it applies | Abqaiq: Utilities units, Hydrogen sulphide removal, Crude stabilisation units | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Abqaiq
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Abqaiq. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The site · Abqaiq
Abqaiq at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Operators and companies on site
- Saudi Aramco
Classified areas to expect
- Crude stabilisation units
- Natural gas liquids facility
- Utilities units
- Hydrogen sulphide removal
Local conditions · Abqaiq
Site conditions at Abqaiq: what wears and what limits equipment
Climate
Desert conditions on the edge of the Empty Quarter, with high summer temperatures and dust.
Field notes · Abqaiq
More about Abqaiq that matters for portable equipment
Abqaiq: background
Abqaiq's growth followed the discovery of the Abqaiq oil field in 1940, which is why the town grew up around Aramco operations and housing.
Abqaiq: geography and layout
The processing complex covers about 250 hectares, so inspection and maintenance rounds involve long distances between units on a single fenced site.
Abqaiq: logistics and access
Commercial air travel uses King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, about 90 km from Abqaiq, which sets the practical transit time for visiting engineers.
Abqaiq: infrastructure
The Abqaiq to Yanbu natural gas liquids pipeline is described as Saudi Arabia's largest NGL line, carrying product west to Red Sea petrochemical plants.
The term · Ex-proof
What “Ex-proof” means for a smartphone
“Ex-proof” is shorthand for equipment carrying an explosion-protection marking (the Ex mark) that matches the area it enters. The marking states the protection concept, gas or dust group and temperature class, and it must be backed by a certificate issued by a recognised body, so a phone described as Ex-proof should come with a certificate number you can check.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to carry the marking II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. That is a target: certification is in progress, no certificate has been issued, and SAMS will publish the certificate numbers when they exist.
In Abqaiq. Hydrogen sulphide removal and gas liquids handling create Zone 1 areas, so a marking check would read zone, gas group and temperature class against the area classification. Which group applies depends on the substances present, and Aramco classifies that. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, still a target.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Abqaiq
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for Abqaiq yet and applications are reviewed company by company. Because a certified Ex device cannot be opened by an ordinary phone workshop without invalidating its certificate, SAMS looks for partners who can provide competent technical support and after-sales service locally.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in Abqaiq.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · Abqaiq
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in Abqaiq today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an Ex-proof smartphone in Abqaiq cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
What Ex marking will the IS-04Z1 carry?
The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. It becomes a marking only when the certificate is issued; until then it is a design target.
Which areas at Abqaiq would use it?
Likely candidates are crude stabilisation units, natural gas liquids facility, utilities units, hydrogen sulphide removal. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Abqaiq?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for Abqaiq.
How far is Abqaiq from the nearest commercial airport?
King Fahd International Airport at Dammam is about 90 km away. Abqaiq's own airstrip is run by Saudi Aramco and is not open to commercial traffic, so visiting service teams normally fly to Dammam and continue by road under the host's transport rules.
Is a handset used at Abqaiq subject to Saudi radio approval?
Radio equipment supplied in Saudi Arabia is normally covered by Communications, Space and Technology Commission type approval, with certificates renewed periodically. Aramco sites may add their own device rules, so confirm both the national and the site requirement with your client.
Does the Saudi telecoms regime affect a handset?
Telecoms equipment conformity in Saudi Arabia has been handled through the SABER platform of SASO since February 2025, and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission is the telecoms regulator. These are separate from Ex certification. Ask the supplier for both, and check scope with the relevant authority.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Abqaiq, other places in Saudi Arabia, and the pages behind them.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in AbqaiqSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in RiyadhElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Al AhsaElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in YanbuElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in JizanElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for Saudi ArabiaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Abqaiq
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · Abqaiq
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Abqaiq?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.