Terminal
The oil terminal has North and South Piers and a Sea Islands section.
Ras Tanura is a peninsula governorate in the Eastern Province hosting Aramco's Ras Tanura Refinery, with a crude distillation capacity of 550,000 barrels a day, and one of the world's largest crude export terminals. Refining, terminal and gas plant areas create Zone 1 conditions. Distribution partners for Ras Tanura are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Ras Tanura 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.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. 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 | Ras Tanura: Storage tank farms, Natural gas liquids fractionation (Ju'aymah), Refinery process units | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Ras Tanura. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
The oil terminal has North and South Piers and a Sea Islands section.
The governorate also has the Ju'aymah gas plant and the Ghazlan power plant serving Eastern Province industry.
The governorate's industrial infrastructure is centrally managed and operated by Saudi Aramco, so a single operator's rules cover refinery, terminal and gas plant work.
Ras Tanura is a peninsula governorate bordered by Jubail to the north and Qatif to the west and south, so road access runs through neighbouring governorates.
A two-lane highway joins Ras Tanura to the Dhahran to Jubail Highway, and the Ras Tanura to Safwa Bridge links it with Safwa city in Qatif Governorate.
Commercial flights use King Fahd International Airport in Dammam; Ras Tanura's own airport is private and run by Aramco for its employees.
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 Ras Tanura. A crude export terminal draws in tanker, marine and terminal contractors from many countries, so IECEx is a convenient shared reference. A certificate of conformity and schedule of conditions would be the documents reviewed. For the IS-04Z1 they remain targets, as certification is in progress.
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Ras Tanura. 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 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.
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
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, crude export terminal piers and sea islands, storage tank farms, natural gas liquids fractionation (ju'aymah). 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 Ras Tanura.
The area was officially named Rahima from 1941 until 1986, when Ras Tanura was restored. Drawings, maps or inspection records may therefore use either name, so make sure the area names in any asset register or work permit are matched before ordering equipment.
Visitors normally fly to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and drive; Ras Tanura's own airport is private and operated by Aramco for its employees. A two-lane highway connects to the Dhahran to Jubail Highway. Site access is arranged through the host.
It can be. The peninsula is on the Gulf, so salt, humidity and heat apply on top of desert dust. IP68 sealing helps, but check the datasheet for the temperature range and for any limits on cleaning or exposure. Ask the operator about its own environmental requirements.
More on Ras Tanura, and on other places in 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.
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.