SABIC: geography and layout
Jubail is on the Gulf coast and Yanbu on the Red Sea, on opposite sides of the Kingdom, so equipment planning, logistics and climate differ between the two sites.
SABIC · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone for SABIC
SABIC is a Saudi chemicals company headquartered in Riyadh, 70% owned by Saudi Aramco with the rest publicly traded. SABIC's production grew from 6.5 million tonnes in 1985 to more than 60 million tonnes by 2012, with ethylene and its derivatives among the key products. If you are specifying an explosion proof smartphone for SABIC, this page covers the markings, the approvals and the current certification status 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
RouteSpecification
WhereSABIC
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for SABIC: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. 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 SABIC
| 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 | SABIC: Petrochemical plants, Polymer plants, Fertiliser units | 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 · SABIC
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Jubail Industrial City
- Yanbu Industrial City
Classified areas
- Petrochemical plants
- Polymer plants
- Fertiliser units
- Chemical storage and handling
Supplier approval · SABIC
Becoming an approved supplier to SABIC
SABIC runs a Supplier Portal (supplier.sabic.com): applicants use the Supplier Registration link and complete a short form, after which SABIC's supplier relationship team sends instructions for the full registration. 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 · SABIC
More about SABIC that matters for portable equipment
SABIC: projects and investment
SABIC partners in three regional ventures based in Bahrain as well as its Saudi affiliates, so Gulf-wide operations share some site practice.
SABIC: who works there
SABIC's manufacturing network in Saudi Arabia consists of 18 affiliates, most in Al-Jubail Industrial City on the Gulf, two in Yanbu on the Red Sea and one in Dammam.
SABIC: background
SABIC was founded by royal decree in September 1976 to turn oil by-products into chemicals, polymers and fertilisers, and its founding turned the fishing villages of Jubail and Yanbu into industrial cities.
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 SABIC. Petrochemical, polymer and fertiliser plants mean explosion-proof covers several protection concepts. Flameproof Ex d is common for fixed equipment on process units, while intrinsic safety suits handheld devices. A phone depends on the second. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, and certification is in progress.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof smartphone for SABIC
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · SABIC
Frequently asked questions
Can SABIC 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 smartphone for SABIC 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.
How does SABIC approve suppliers?
SABIC runs a Supplier Portal (supplier.sabic.com): applicants use the Supplier Registration link and complete a short form, after which SABIC's supplier relationship team sends instructions for the full registration. Confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
Does Aramco ownership of SABIC mean Aramco rules apply to its plants?
Aramco holds 70 per cent of SABIC, but SABIC remains a separate company with its own affiliates and procurement. Aramco-style standards may be referenced on some projects, yet requirements vary, so ask the relevant SABIC affiliate or project owner which specifications and approved equipment lists apply.
How do Jubail and Yanbu differ for field equipment?
Jubail on the Gulf coast typically has very hot, humid summers with salt-laden air, while Yanbu on the Red Sea has a hot coastal climate with dust and wind. Check enclosure ingress rating, corrosion resistance and operating temperature range, and confirm any site conditions with the affiliate.
Who approves equipment for use at SABIC sites?
The sheet states that supplier registration and equipment approval are run by SABIC itself. Requirements may differ between Jubail and Yanbu and across business units, so confirm with SABIC's procurement and HSE teams. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch with certification in progress and no certificate has been issued.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on SABIC, and on other places in Saudi Arabia.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenElsewhere 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 · SABIC
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for SABIC, Saudi Arabia
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · SABIC
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for SABIC?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.