Saudi Arabia: infrastructure
The Ju'aymah Gas Plant at Ras Tanura is recognised as the world's largest natural gas liquids fractionation plant.
Saudi Arabia · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone Distributor in Saudi Arabia
The IS-04Z1 is a Zone 1 and Zone 21 handset for people who work inside classified areas in the Kingdom: field operators, maintenance and inspection engineers, and the HSE and telecoms teams who equip them. Ras Tanura Refinery was established in 1939 and is the largest refinery in Saudi Arabia, run by Saudi Aramco. Distribution partners for Saudi Arabia are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
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
WhereSaudi Arabia
Short answer. Saudi Arabia 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.
Status: pre-launch. IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued; launch is planned for Q4 2026. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for Saudi Arabia
| 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 | Saudi Arabia: Ghawar, Shaybah, Khurais | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Saudi Arabia
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 Saudi Arabia. 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 market · Saudi Arabia
Where an Ex phone is used in Saudi Arabia
Operators and classified areas drawn from the SAMS Saudi Arabia market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Saudi Aramco
- Upstream, gas processing, refining and export across the Kingdom
- SABIC
- Olefins, polymers and fertiliser production at Jubail and Yanbu
- SATORP
- Aramco and TotalEnergies refinery and petrochemical complex, Jubail
- YASREF
- Aramco and Sinopec full-conversion refinery at Yanbu
- Petro Rabigh
- Integrated refining and petrochemicals on the Red Sea coast
- Sadara Chemical
- Mixed-feed cracker and specialty chemicals at Jubail
Industrial areas and sites
- Abqaiq
- Crude stabilisation and processing, Eastern Province
- Ras Tanura
- Refinery, tank farm and crude export terminal
- Ghawar
- Onshore field with continuous well and flowline work
- Shaybah
- Remote field and NGL plant in the Empty Quarter
- Khurais
- Central processing facility and associated gas handling
- Fadhili
- Gas plant east of Jubail, expanding under EPC award
Field notes · Saudi Arabia
More about Saudi Arabia that matters for portable equipment
Saudi Arabia: rules and approvals
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission issues type approval certificates valid for two years, with no local representative required; Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization safety certification needs a local representative.
Saudi Arabia: industry on the ground
Jubail Industrial City was designated in 1975 and is home to SABIC, while Jubail has a population of about 475,000 as of 2022.
Saudi Arabia: logistics and access
Ras Tanura is served by King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and a private Aramco airport, and a two-lane road joins the Dhahran to Jubail Highway, with a bridge to Safwa.
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 Saudi Arabia. A Saudi marking check would read II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 and then test the temperature class against the ambient range, since open plant in the Eastern Province sits above 45 °C for months. The gas group must also suit the process, while sulphur and grain handling put Zone 21 beside Zone 1 at some sites.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Saudi Arabia
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia.
- 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 · Saudi Arabia
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 sites in Saudi Arabia does this cover?
The market guide for Saudi Arabia covers Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Ghawar, Shaybah, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Saudi Arabia?
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 Saudi Arabia.
Which airport serves the Eastern Province industrial area?
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam serves Ras Tanura and the wider Eastern Province, and the Dhahran to Jubail Highway links the main coastal sites, so most visits start from Dammam with road transfers arranged by the host.
What approvals do phones and radios need in Saudi Arabia?
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission issues a type approval valid for two years, and Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization certification applies for safety and conformity. SASO needs a local representative. Confirm current requirements per model.
Is the IS-04Z1 suited to Eastern Province summer heat?
The design targets heat, humidity and dust with a rugged build and IP68 sealing. The T4 target and the certified ambient range are what matter, and they will be published with the datasheet and certificate. Confirm both against the highest ambient temperature at your plant before specifying.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Saudi Arabia and for Saudi Arabia.
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in Saudi ArabiaSame place, different guide
Saudi Arabia market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for Saudi ArabiaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Saudi Arabia
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for 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 · Saudi Arabia
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Saudi Arabia?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.