Ma'aden: industry on the ground
Industrial minerals such as kaolin, low-grade bauxite and magnesia are also produced for the domestic construction and manufacturing markets.
Ma'aden · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Supplier for Ma'aden
Ma'aden is a Saudi state-owned mining company headquartered in Riyadh, with the Public Investment Fund as majority shareholder. Its aluminium business mines bauxite at Al Ba'itha and smelts and rolls aluminium at Ras Al Khair, producing over 1 million tonnes a year; it also produces phosphate fertiliser, gold and base metals. This page sets out how an IECEx smartphone supply route to Ma'aden will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
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
RouteSupply
WhereMa'aden
Short answer. An IECEx smartphone for Ma'aden cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
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 Ma'aden
| 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 | Ma'aden: Acid plants, Alumina refinery and aluminium smelter, Mining and processing sites | 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 · Ma'aden
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden): 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
- Ras Al-Khair
- Wa'ad Al Shamal
- Ba'itha bauxite mine
Classified areas
- Acid plants
- Alumina refinery and aluminium smelter
- Mining and processing sites
- Fuel and gas handling
Supplier approval · Ma'aden
Supplier registration at Ma'aden
Ma'aden runs its own supplier portal (maaden.com/supplier-portal) where new suppliers create a supplier profile, and contractor manpower is managed through a separate Fieldglass link. 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 · Ma'aden
More about Ma'aden that matters for portable equipment
Ma'aden: who works there
The aluminium joint venture was set up in 2009 with Alcoa; in 2025 Alcoa sold its 25.1 per cent interest to Ma'aden, ending the joint venture, so Ma'aden now owns those companies.
Ma'aden: rules and approvals
Mining policy in the Kingdom is overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources under the Mining Investment Law, which shapes how Ma'aden and its partners explore and permit new sites.
Ma'aden: industry on the ground
Its gold operations include the Mahd Ad-Dhahab, Ad Duwayhi, As-Suq, Bulghah and Al-Amar mines on the Arabian Shield, with copper, zinc and silver produced as by-products.
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 Ma'aden. With processing complexes such as Ras Al-Khair and Wa'ad Al Shamal, Ma'aden works with international EPCs and process licensors, many of whom use IECEx documents. A reviewer should read the certificate of conformity together with its schedule of conditions. The IS-04Z1 is designed for IECEx and certification is in progress.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for Ma'aden
There is no stock to order for Ma'aden yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch, certification is in progress, and supply will run through authorised distributors after the certificates are issued. Procurement teams can prepare now with the datasheet, the certification schedule and a safe-area evaluation.
- 01
Request the datasheet
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
- 02
Ask for the certification schedule
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
- 03
Evaluate in a safe area
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
- 04
Register for launch
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Questions · Ma'aden
Frequently asked questions
Can Ma'aden buy the IS-04Z1 today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an IECEx smartphone for Ma'aden 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.
How does Ma'aden approve suppliers?
Ma'aden runs its own supplier portal (maaden.com/supplier-portal) where new suppliers create a supplier profile, and contractor manpower is managed through a separate Fieldglass link. Confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams.
How will SAMS supply Ma'aden?
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Does the end of the Alcoa joint venture change anything for suppliers?
Ma'aden took full ownership of the aluminium companies in 2025, so procurement and site rules now sit with Ma'aden rather than a joint venture partner. Older partner-specific procedures may no longer apply, so ask the aluminium business for its current supplier and equipment approval requirements.
Are Ma'aden's remote mines different from Ras Al-Khair for equipment planning?
Yes. Mining sites such as Wa'ad Al-Shamal and the gold mines are remote, hot, dusty and far from workshops, whereas Ras Al-Khair is a coastal industrial site. Check dust and water ingress ratings, temperature range, battery life in heat and field support availability for each location.
How would the phone cope with desert and coastal conditions?
The IS-04Z1 is IP68 rated for dust and water ingress, with a 4,000 mAh battery designed for a long shift. Temperature limits will be defined by the final certificate and datasheet, so check them against site conditions. IP68 is not explosion protection, and certification is still in progress.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Ma'aden and for Saudi Arabia.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Saudi AramcoElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for Saudi ArabiaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Ma'aden
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Ma'aden
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ma'aden?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.