Hot, arid climate
Summer temperatures reach about 45 C with little rainfall, so outdoor handsets face heat, dust and salt air.
Manama is the capital of Bahrain, on the north-east coast of Bahrain Island, with Mina Salman as the country's main commercial port. Manama sits on the north-eastern coast of Bahrain Island on low-lying terrain, with reclaimed land extending the coastline in recent decades. Distribution partners for Manama are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Manama 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. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP rating for dust and water | IP68 design |
| Fleet management | EMM and MDM support | Android 16 with EMM and MDM |
| Explosion protection | A separate certificate and marking | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Manama: Port fuel and cargo handling (Mina Salman), Gas processing and LPG handling, LNG import and regasification (Hidd) | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Manama. 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.
Summer temperatures reach about 45 C with little rainfall, so outdoor handsets face heat, dust and salt air.
Manama itself is mainly a financial and commercial city; classified areas are at Sitra, Mina Salman and Hidd rather than in the city centre.
Manama is the capital and largest city, with an estimated population of about 743,000 in 2025, so contractor and technician supply is deep compared with other Bahraini sites.
The city has a desert climate with extremely hot summers, mild winters and very little rain, which affects outdoor equipment and vehicle interiors.
Telecommunications equipment sold in Bahrain needs Telecommunications Regulatory Authority type approval, with certificates valid for three years.
Mina Salman port, inside Manama, covers 80 hectares, has been the primary cargo port and customs point since 1962, and handles over 75 percent of its cargo in containers.
“Industrial” describes a phone built for plant conditions: sealed, drop-resistant and manageable at fleet scale through Android Enterprise. It does not by itself mean the phone may enter a classified area. Only a device with a valid explosion-protection certificate and marking may do that.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to be both an industrial Android phone (IP68, 4,000 mAh battery, 50 MP camera, Android 16 with EMM and MDM support) and an intrinsically safe one. Its explosion-protection certificates are in progress and have not been issued.
In Manama. Contractor fleets here span the oil, gas and ship-repair sectors, so a managed rollout matters more than a single purchase. EMM or MDM enrolment would let each employer control apps and updates on Android 16 handsets. Charging would take place in safe areas, since the battery is not meant to be swapped in a classified zone.
A distributor for Manama 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.
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.
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.
Yes by design: IP68 sealing, a 4,000 mAh battery, a 50 MP camera and Android 16 with EMM and MDM support. The explosion-protection certificates are separate and still in progress.
Likely candidates are refinery process units (sitra), port fuel and cargo handling (mina salman), gas processing and lpg handling, lng import and regasification (hidd). 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 Manama.
Equipment needs TRA type approval, normally applied for by a Bahraini supplier, with a certificate valid for three years. Ask your distributor to confirm the approval number for the exact model.
Mostly no. The city centre is commercial, and the classified areas are at the port, fuel handling sites, ship repair yards and the refinery on Sitra. Ask the site operator which areas apply.
Usually not, because Manama is mainly a financial and commercial city and classified areas lie at Sitra, Mina Salman and Hidd. Whether a particular building, fuel point or yard is classified is decided by its operator, so confirm with the site operator before assuming either way.
Related guides for Manama and for Bahrain.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.