Qatar: infrastructure
Ras Laffan Port encloses about 4,500 hectares of water and is described as the largest artificial harbour in the world, with the world's largest LNG export facility.
Qatar is flat, dry desert with about 70 millimetres of rain a year, mild winters and summers that often reach 40 degrees Celsius. Launch is Q4 2026, so today we can share the specification, the certification schedule and an evaluation unit. This page sets out how a hazardous area cell phone supply route to Qatar will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. A hazardous area cell phone for Qatar 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.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Zone | 0, 1 or 2 for gas; 20, 21 or 22 for dust | Designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC | IIC (target) |
| Area drawing | The operator's own classification drawing | Decided by the site operator |
| Where it applies | Qatar: Halul Island, Al-Shaheen, Ras Laffan Industrial City | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Qatar. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Qatar market guide.
Ras Laffan Port encloses about 4,500 hectares of water and is described as the largest artificial harbour in the world, with the world's largest LNG export facility.
The North Field, found in 1971, is the world's biggest natural gas field, covering about 6,000 square kilometres offshore, and it supplies the plants at Ras Laffan.
Hamad Port, south of Doha near Mesaieed, became operational in December 2016 and is Qatar's main seaport, carrying largely food and building materials.
Mesaieed was established in 1949 as a tanker terminal and was Qatar's only deepwater port for more than 20 years; it is 36 km south of Doha.
A hazardous area is a place where flammable gas, vapour or combustible dust may be present. Standards divide these into zones: Zones 0, 1 and 2 for gas and vapour, and Zones 20, 21 and 22 for dust. Zone 1 and Zone 21 are the tier where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation, which is where the IS-04Z1 is designed to work. Anything carried in must be marked for the zone, gas group and temperature class of the area.
No certificate has been issued for the IS-04Z1 yet, so it must not be taken into a classified area until the certificate covering it exists and the site operator has accepted it.
In Qatar. Qatar's classified areas sit in a few planned zones with controlled access, plus an offshore estate: Ras Laffan Industrial City, Mesaieed Industrial Area, Dukhan, Halul Island, Al Khor support base and the Doha Industrial Area. The operator or site authority classifies each area; SAMS does not.
Nothing can be bought for Qatar today: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch, and SAMS will supply end users through authorised distributors once certificates exist. What a buyer can do now is take the specification, ask for the written certification schedule and arrange a safe-area evaluation, so that the right local channel contacts you at launch.
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
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.
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
Zone 1 and Zone 21 (gas and dust) with gas group IIC and temperature class T4, subject to certification. It must not be used in a classified area before its certificate is issued and the site has accepted it.
The market guide for Qatar covers Ras Laffan Industrial City, Mesaieed Industrial Area, North Field, Dukhan, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Yes. The Communications Regulatory Authority issues a certificate of type approval for telecom equipment, which accepts EU and FCC standards, with no local representative required. Confirm current rules for each model.
Summers often reach 40 degrees Celsius with high coastal humidity, and annual rain is only about 70 millimetres. Choose devices with high ambient temperature ratings and dust protection.
Photography there runs on permit. Android 16 with enterprise management is designed so a telecoms team can disable or restrict the camera and other functions centrally. Agree the policy with the site's security and HSE teams before enrolling any device.
Other guides for Qatar, other places in Qatar, and the pages behind them.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.