Ownership
ADNOC owns Upper Zakum, with ExxonMobil holding 28 per cent and JODCO 12 per cent.
UAE Offshore · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone in UAE Offshore
Zakum's artificial islands suit extended-reach drilling, and the five longest wells in the world are reported to have been drilled there. 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. This page explains what to look for in an IECEx mobile phone for UAE offshore fields, 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
WhereUAE Offshore
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for UAE offshore fields: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
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 · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx mobile phone for UAE offshore fields
| 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 | UAE offshore fields: Offshore production platforms and islands, Island processing and terminals, Platform and subsea pipelines | 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
UAE offshore fields: where the IS-04Z1 would work
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
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
Site conditions at UAE offshore fields: what wears and what limits 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: 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: infrastructure
ADNOC plans facilities to sustain production through 2030 on five islands: Zirku, Asseifiya, Umm Al Anbar, Al Ghallan and Ettouk.
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.
UAE offshore fields: background
Abu Dhabi's first offshore drilling platform was established at Umm Shaif in 1958, and the first crude export left Das Island in 1962.
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 UAE offshore fields. Offshore crews and contractors often work for international firms, and some fields have international shareholders. IECEx gives them a shared reference, with a certificate of conformity and schedule of conditions to read together. SAMS has no IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1; certification is in progress.
The route · specification
Specifying an IECEx mobile phone for UAE Offshore
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 · UAE Offshore
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx mobile phone in UAE Offshore 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 IECEx mobile phone 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.
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.
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.
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.
Why are artificial islands used at Zakum?
Artificial islands let operators drill many wells and handle production from fixed land-like platforms, and they favour extended-reach drilling. ADNOC Drilling has been contracted for new island rigs, so contractor numbers on the islands may rise. Confirm access and equipment rules with ADNOC Offshore.
What corrosion issues affect devices on Zirku or Das Island?
Salt-laden humid air is typical, so look for sealed housings, corrosion-resistant connectors and a stated ingress protection rating. Rinse and dry devices as the manufacturer advises, and carry spares, as resupply is by sea or air.
Does the offshore climate affect a handheld?
The offshore setting is hot and humid with salt-laden air; Zirku Island summers reach 35 to 45 degrees C. The IS-04Z1 is designed to IP68 with a 4,000 mAh battery, but no heat or salt limits are published. Ask for the datasheet and agree use conditions with the operator.
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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
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · UAE offshore fields
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for UAE Offshore?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.