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.
UAE Offshore · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Distributor in UAE Offshore
The UAE's main offshore oil and gas fields lie in the Arabian Gulf off Abu Dhabi. 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. Distribution partners for UAE offshore fields are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
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
WhereUAE Offshore
Short answer. UAE offshore fields 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 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: Platform and subsea pipelines, Marine loading terminals, Offshore production platforms and islands | 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
What UAE offshore fields means for portable equipment
Climate
Desert marine climate; Zirku Island summer temperatures are typically 35 to 45 degrees C with high humidity.
Field notes · UAE offshore fields
More about UAE offshore fields that matters for portable equipment
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.
UAE offshore fields: projects and investment
ADNOC Drilling has been contracted to supply island rigs for wells on existing and new artificial islands at Zakum, with delivery expected from 2026.
UAE offshore fields: infrastructure
Replacement of a 125 km oil pipeline from Umm Lulu to Zirku Island has been awarded as an offshore project, so subsea and island pipeline work is under way.
UAE offshore fields: projects and investment
Zakum's artificial islands suit extended-reach drilling, and the five longest wells in the world are reported to have been drilled there.
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 · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in UAE Offshore
A distributor for UAE offshore fields would carry the IS-04Z1 after certification completes; the Q4 2026 launch is the planning date and no appointment has been made. SAMS reviews applicants one by one and prefers companies with their own Ex-competent technical and service staff, since certified devices must not be repaired outside approved channels.
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 UAE offshore fields.
- 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 · UAE Offshore
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx smartphone in UAE Offshore 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 smartphone 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.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for UAE offshore fields?
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 UAE offshore fields.
How far offshore are the main UAE oil fields?
Upper Zakum is about 84 km north-west of the Abu Dhabi islands, and operations are based on islands such as Zirku and Das. Access is by boat or helicopter under the operator's control, so plan transit time and baggage limits for equipment.
Do offshore sites follow different hazardous-area rules from onshore plants?
Often the same standards apply, but offshore and island sites usually add stricter controls on ignition sources, wireless devices and marine transport. Approval is decided by the operator, so ask for its current equipment, certification and wireless policy before shipping devices.
How are devices managed for offshore crews that rotate?
Offshore crews rotate and sites are reached by sea and air under operator control. A phone would normally be enrolled in the employer's or operator's EMM or MDM. The IS-04Z1 is designed for EMM/MDM. Ask the operator how devices are issued, charged and handed over.
Related guides
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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
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 · UAE offshore fields
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for UAE Offshore?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.