SABIC: people and language
SABIC employs more than 40,000 people globally, and its Saudi manufacturing is concentrated in a few industrial cities, mainly Jubail, rather than spread across the Kingdom.
SABIC · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone for SABIC
Saudi Aramco agreed to buy a 70 per cent stake in SABIC from the Public Investment Fund in 2019 and the transaction completed in June 2020, linking SABIC closely to Aramco feedstock. It makes chemicals, industrial polymers and fertilisers, with major industrial operations in Jubail Industrial City on the Gulf and in Yanbu on the Red Sea. This page explains what to look for in an IECEx mobile phone for SABIC, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
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 topicIECEx
DeviceMobile Phone
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 · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx mobile phone for SABIC
| 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 | 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): operations and where an Ex phone fits
A short profile of its operations and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
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: 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: 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.
The term · IECEx
What “IECEx” means for a smartphone
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 SABIC. At Jubail Industrial City and Yanbu Industrial City, international EPCs and licensors build and maintain plants, and many know the IECEx system. A reviewer should read the certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions. The IS-04Z1 is designed for IECEx, and certification is in progress, so nothing is available as certified yet.
The route · specification
Specifying an IECEx mobile phone 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?
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
What does an IECEx mobile phone for SABIC cost?
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.
Does the IS-04Z1 hold an IECEx certificate?
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
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
Other guides for SABIC, other places in Saudi Arabia, and the pages behind them.
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for SABICSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for SABICSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Saudi AramcoElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenElsewhere 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
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 · SABIC
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for SABIC?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.