Ma'aden: rules and approvals
Mining policy in the Kingdom is overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources under the Mining Investment Law, which shapes how Ma'aden and its partners explore and permit new sites.
Ma'aden · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'aden
Its gold operations include the Mahd Ad-Dhahab, Ad Duwayhi, As-Suq, Bulghah and Al-Amar mines on the Arabian Shield, with copper, zinc and silver produced as by-products. Its aluminium business mines bauxite at Al Ba'itha and smelts and rolls aluminium at Ras Al Khair, producing over 1 million tonnes a year; it also produces phosphate fertiliser, gold and base metals. This page sets out how an explosion proof mobile phone supply route to Ma'aden will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
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 topicexplosion proof
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSupply
WhereMa'aden
Short answer. An explosion proof mobile phone for Ma'aden cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof mobile phone for Ma'aden
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Ma'aden: Ammonia and phosphate fertiliser plants, Acid plants, Alumina refinery and aluminium smelter | 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 organisation · Ma'aden
Working with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden): sites and classified areas
The main sites and the hazardous-area types a portable device is likely to meet at this organisation.
Sites and areas
- Ras Al-Khair
- Wa'ad Al Shamal
- Ba'itha bauxite mine
Classified areas
- Ammonia and phosphate fertiliser plants
- Acid plants
- Alumina refinery and aluminium smelter
- Mining and processing sites
Supplier approval · Ma'aden
Becoming an approved supplier to Ma'aden
Ma'aden runs its own supplier portal (maaden.com/supplier-portal) where new suppliers create a supplier profile, and contractor manpower is managed through a separate Fieldglass link. Confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Field notes · Ma'aden
More about Ma'aden that matters for portable equipment
Ma'aden: projects and investment
Saudi Arabia estimates its mineral endowment at about 1.3 trillion US dollars, and Ma'aden is positioned as the national vehicle for exploring and developing it under Vision 2030.
Ma'aden: background
Ma'aden grew from a single-mine gold producer established in 1997 into a diversified mining and processing group listed on Tadawul, with the Public Investment Fund as its main shareholder.
Ma'aden: industry on the ground
The Wa'ad Al-Shamal phosphate complex in northern Saudi Arabia covers mining, beneficiation, ammonia and phosphoric acid production, and finished diammonium phosphate fertiliser for export.
The term · explosion proof
What “explosion proof” means for a smartphone
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Ma'aden. A mining and metals group shows why explosion-proof is not one thing. Ammonia and phosphate plants, fuel and gas handling and fixed motors may call for flameproof Ex d, while a handheld relies on intrinsic safety. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, subject to certification.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for Ma'aden
There is no stock to order for Ma'aden yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch, certification is in progress, and supply will run through authorised distributors after the certificates are issued. Procurement teams can prepare now with the datasheet, the certification schedule and a safe-area evaluation.
- 01
Request the datasheet
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
- 02
Ask for the certification schedule
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
- 03
Evaluate in a safe area
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
- 04
Register for launch
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Questions · Ma'aden
Frequently asked questions
Can Ma'aden buy the IS-04Z1 today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an explosion proof mobile phone for Ma'aden cost?
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
Is the IS-04Z1 explosion proof or intrinsically safe?
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
How does Ma'aden approve suppliers?
Ma'aden runs its own supplier portal (maaden.com/supplier-portal) where new suppliers create a supplier profile, and contractor manpower is managed through a separate Fieldglass link. Confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams.
How will SAMS supply Ma'aden?
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Does the end of the Alcoa joint venture change anything for suppliers?
Ma'aden took full ownership of the aluminium companies in 2025, so procurement and site rules now sit with Ma'aden rather than a joint venture partner. Older partner-specific procedures may no longer apply, so ask the aluminium business for its current supplier and equipment approval requirements.
Are Ma'aden's remote mines different from Ras Al-Khair for equipment planning?
Yes. Mining sites such as Wa'ad Al-Shamal and the gold mines are remote, hot, dusty and far from workshops, whereas Ras Al-Khair is a coastal industrial site. Check dust and water ingress ratings, temperature range, battery life in heat and field support availability for each location.
How would the phone cope with desert and coastal conditions?
The IS-04Z1 is IP68 rated for dust and water ingress, with a 4,000 mAh battery designed for a long shift. Temperature limits will be defined by the final certificate and datasheet, so check them against site conditions. IP68 is not explosion protection, and certification is still in progress.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Ma'aden, and on other places in Saudi Arabia.
IECEx Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Saudi AramcoElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for Saudi ArabiaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Ma'aden
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Enquiry · Ma'aden
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ma'aden?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.