Iraq: logistics and access
Umm Qasr is Iraq's main deep-water port, opened in July 1967, with a railway link to Basra and Baghdad.
Iraq · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Distributor in Iraq
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21, built for degassing stations, gas plants, refineries and terminals where a crew is a long way from a replacement. Baghdad is on the Tigris and has an estimated 8 million people, about 22 percent of Iraq's population, which makes it Iraq's largest pool of technical and administrative staff. An IECEx smartphone distributor in Iraq would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.
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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereIraq
Short answer. Iraq 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.
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 smartphone for Iraq
| 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 | Iraq: Zubair, Majnoon, Halfaya | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Iraq
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 Iraq. 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 market · Iraq
Where this applies in Iraq
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Iraq market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Basra Oil Company
- The Ministry of Oil operator across the southern fields
- Rumaila Operating Organisation
- Joint operator of the Rumaila field for bp, PetroChina and BOC
- PetroChina
- Operator of West Qurna 1 since taking over in 2024
- Eni
- Development and operations at the Zubair field
- Basrah Gas Company
- South Gas Company, Shell and Mitsubishi associated gas venture
- Missan Oil Company
- The Missan fields and the Halfaya central gas processing plant
Industrial areas and sites
- Rumaila
- Iraq’s largest field, with degassing stations spread across it
- West Qurna
- Two adjacent super-giant developments north of Basra
- Zubair
- Field, degassing stations and associated gas handling
- Majnoon
- Field near the eastern border, operated by Basra Oil Company
- Halfaya
- Missan field with a central gas processing facility
- Khor Al-Zubair
- Gas plant, fertiliser and petrochemical zone and the port
Field notes · Iraq
More about Iraq that matters for portable equipment
Iraq: rules and approvals
Iraq's Communications and Media Commission issues type approval certificates valid for one year, and the application normally goes through a registered local partner.
Iraq: rules and approvals
In August 2026 the CMC adopted a new type approval certificate format with a QR code for verification and technical specifications printed on the certificate.
Iraq: industry on the ground
Rumaila holds about 17 billion barrels of reserves and produced about 1.42 million barrels a day in 2022, roughly 30 percent of Iraq's total output.
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 Iraq. Iraq's southern fields involve joint operations and international contractors, who often rely on IECEx as a common reference. A certificate of conformity names the equipment, and its schedule of conditions sets the conditions of use. IECEx certification for the IS-04Z1 is in progress, together with COSQC conformity.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Iraq
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Iraq. 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.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in Iraq.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · Iraq
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx smartphone in Iraq 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 smartphone in Iraq 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.
Which sites in Iraq does this cover?
The market guide for Iraq covers Rumaila, West Qurna, Zubair, Majnoon, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Iraq?
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 Iraq.
Where is Iraq's main oil-field activity?
The south around Basra is the heart of production and export, with Rumaila, Majnoon and other fields, while the north has Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region has its own fields. Each area has separate operators and access rules.
How hot does it get for field equipment?
Summer temperatures can exceed 46 degrees Celsius, and southern Iraq regularly sees higher peaks. Dust-laden winds are also common. Choose devices with a wide operating temperature range and dust protection.
Does the Kurdistan Region have separate requirements?
The market guide notes that the Kurdistan Region runs on its own registrations and logistics. Requirements for a project there may differ from those in the south. Check with the operator and local authorities which documents and registrations are needed before ordering.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Iraq, and on other places in Iraq.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in IraqSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in IraqSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in IraqSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Supplier in IraqSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Supplier in IraqSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier in IraqSame place, different guide
Iraq market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for IraqEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Iraq
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Iraq
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Iraq
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Iraq?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.