Ownership
ADNOC owns Upper Zakum, with ExxonMobil holding 28 per cent and JODCO 12 per cent.
UAE Offshore · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone Distributor in UAE Offshore
ADNOC plans facilities to sustain production through 2030 on five islands: Zirku, Asseifiya, Umm Al Anbar, Al Ghallan and Ettouk. Upper Zakum, discovered in 1963 and on stream since 1977, is operated as part of ADNOC Offshore (formerly ZADCO), with offshore output handled at island facilities such as Das Island and Zirku Island. Distribution partners for UAE offshore fields 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 topicexplosion proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereUAE Offshore
Short answer. UAE offshore fields 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 · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof smartphone for UAE offshore fields
| 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 | UAE offshore fields: Platform and subsea pipelines, Marine loading terminals, Offshore production platforms and islands | Classified by the site operator |
Product · UAE Offshore
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 UAE Offshore. 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 · UAE offshore fields
Working in UAE offshore fields: operators and classified areas
The companies on site and the hazardous-area types a handset is likely to meet there.
Operators and companies on site
- ADNOC Offshore
- ADNOC
- ExxonMobil
- Japan Oil Development Company (JODCO)
Classified areas to expect
- Offshore production platforms and islands
- Island processing and terminals
- Platform and subsea pipelines
- Marine loading terminals
Local conditions · UAE offshore fields
What UAE offshore fields means for portable equipment
Access
Das Island lies about 160 km north-west of the UAE mainland and is staffed by about 6,000 oil and gas personnel on a rotational schedule, so access is by operator-controlled sea and air transport.
Field notes · UAE offshore fields
More about UAE offshore fields that matters for portable equipment
UAE offshore fields: projects and investment
Zakum's artificial islands suit extended-reach drilling, and the five longest wells in the world are reported to have been drilled there.
UAE offshore fields: geography and layout
Upper Zakum lies about 84 km north-west of the Abu Dhabi islands, so it is a boat or helicopter journey from the mainland.
UAE offshore fields: rules and approvals
UAE phones need federal type approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and offshore operators may add their own device rules on top.
UAE offshore fields: projects and investment
Upper and Lower Zakum together hold around 50 billion barrels of oil in place and form the second largest offshore oilfield in the world.
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 UAE offshore fields. On platforms, islands and marine terminals, explosion-proof is used loosely. Flameproof Ex d suits fixed pumps and junction boxes, while a handheld phone relies on intrinsic safety. Subsea and platform pipelines and island processing each need their own assessment, made by the operator, not the device maker.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in UAE Offshore
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for UAE offshore fields. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device 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 UAE offshore fields.
- 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 · UAE Offshore
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an explosion proof smartphone in UAE Offshore 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 explosion proof smartphone in UAE Offshore 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.
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.
Which areas at UAE offshore fields would use it?
Likely candidates are offshore production platforms and islands, island processing and terminals, platform and subsea pipelines, marine loading terminals. 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 UAE offshore fields?
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 UAE offshore fields.
How far offshore are the main UAE oil fields?
Upper Zakum is about 84 km north-west of the Abu Dhabi islands, and operations are based on islands such as Zirku and Das. Access is by boat or helicopter under the operator's control, so plan transit time and baggage limits for equipment.
Do offshore sites follow different hazardous-area rules from onshore plants?
Often the same standards apply, but offshore and island sites usually add stricter controls on ignition sources, wireless devices and marine transport. Approval is decided by the operator, so ask for its current equipment, certification and wireless policy before shipping devices.
How are devices managed for offshore crews that rotate?
Offshore crews rotate and sites are reached by sea and air under operator control. A phone would normally be enrolled in the employer's or operator's EMM or MDM. The IS-04Z1 is designed for EMM/MDM. Ask the operator how devices are issued, charged and handed over.
Related guides
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Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Distributor in UAE OffshoreSame place, different guide
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United Arab Emirates market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United Arab EmiratesEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · UAE offshore fields
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for UAE offshore fields, United Arab Emirates
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 · UAE offshore fields
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for UAE Offshore?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.