Compact island
Bahrain is a small island state, so the capital, the port and the industrial areas are close together, which shortens service and delivery times.
Manama is the capital of Bahrain, on the north-east coast of Bahrain Island, with Mina Salman as the country's main commercial port. Zone 1 and Zone 21 work around the city relates to port fuel handling, ship repair and the oil, gas and refining sites on the island. Distribution partners for Manama are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Manama 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.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of conformity | Number checkable on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Standards edition | The IEC 60079 edition the certificate cites | Stated on the certificate when issued |
| Schedule of conditions | Limits of use, batteries and accessories | Published with the certificate |
| Where it applies | Manama: Port fuel and cargo handling (Mina Salman), Gas processing and LPG handling, LNG import and regasification (Hidd) | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Manama. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
Bahrain is a small island state, so the capital, the port and the industrial areas are close together, which shortens service and delivery times.
Summer temperatures reach about 45 C with little rainfall, so outdoor handsets face heat, dust and salt air.
The city has a desert climate with extremely hot summers, mild winters and very little rain, which affects outdoor equipment and vehicle interiors.
Telecommunications equipment sold in Bahrain needs Telecommunications Regulatory Authority type approval, with certificates valid for three years.
Mina Salman port, inside Manama, covers 80 hectares, has been the primary cargo port and customs point since 1962, and handles over 75 percent of its cargo in containers.
Manama sits on the north-eastern coast of Bahrain Island on low-lying terrain, with reclaimed land extending the coastline in recent decades.
IECEx is the international scheme for certifying equipment used in explosive atmospheres. A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited certification body against a specific edition of the IEC 60079 standards and carries a schedule of conditions of safe use. It is not a legal requirement in most countries on its own, but many national schemes accept it as the technical basis.
The IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1 is in progress and has not been issued. The marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, the intrinsic safety concept for Zone 1 gas with the hardest gas group (IIC) and a 135 °C temperature class.
In Manama. The international IECEx scheme matters in Manama because the island hosts operators and visiting contractors from several countries working side by side. Reviewers there would look for a certificate of conformity plus the schedule of conditions, which states the limits of use. For the IS-04Z1 these are targets, since IECEx certification is still in progress.
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Manama. 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.
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.
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.
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
Likely candidates are refinery process units (sitra), port fuel and cargo handling (mina salman), gas processing and lpg handling, lng import and regasification (hidd). Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
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 Manama.
Equipment needs TRA type approval, normally applied for by a Bahraini supplier, with a certificate valid for three years. Ask your distributor to confirm the approval number for the exact model.
Mostly no. The city centre is commercial, and the classified areas are at the port, fuel handling sites, ship repair yards and the refinery on Sitra. Ask the site operator which areas apply.
Usually not, because Manama is mainly a financial and commercial city and classified areas lie at Sitra, Mina Salman and Hidd. Whether a particular building, fuel point or yard is classified is decided by its operator, so confirm with the site operator before assuming either way.
Related guides for Manama and for Bahrain.
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.