Ma'aden: projects and investment
Saudi Arabia estimates its mineral endowment at about 1.3 trillion US dollars, and Ma'aden is positioned as the national vehicle for exploring and developing it under Vision 2030.
Ma'aden · intrinsically safe
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'aden
Ma'aden is a Saudi state-owned mining company headquartered in Riyadh, with the Public Investment Fund as majority shareholder. The aluminium chain runs from bauxite mining at Al-Ba'itha through the alumina refinery to the smelter and casthouse at Ras Al-Khair, using the Ma'aden Bauxite and Alumina and Ma'aden Aluminium companies. This page sets out how an intrinsically safe mobile phone 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 topicintrinsically safe
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSupply
WhereMa'aden
Short answer. An intrinsically safe mobile phone 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.
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.
At a glance · intrinsically safe
Checklist: intrinsically safe mobile phone for Ma'aden
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | ia, ib or ic matched to the zone | ib, for Zone 1 |
| Entity parameters | Uo, Io and Po within the device limits | Published with the certificate |
| Accessories | Chargers and cases certified with the device | Defined at certification |
| Where it applies | Ma'aden: Fuel and gas handling, Ammonia and phosphate fertiliser plants, Acid plants | 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) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Ras Al-Khair
- Wa'ad Al Shamal
- Ba'itha bauxite mine
Classified areas
- Fuel and gas handling
- Ammonia and phosphate fertiliser plants
- Acid plants
- Alumina refinery and aluminium smelter
Supplier approval · Ma'aden
Becoming an approved supplier to 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: background
Ma'aden grew from a single-mine gold producer established in 1997 into a diversified mining and processing group listed on Tadawul, with the Public Investment Fund as its main shareholder.
Ma'aden: industry on the ground
The Wa'ad Al-Shamal phosphate complex in northern Saudi Arabia covers mining, beneficiation, ammonia and phosphoric acid production, and finished diammonium phosphate fertiliser for export.
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.
The term · intrinsically safe
What “intrinsically safe” means for a smartphone
Intrinsic safety limits the electrical and thermal energy in a circuit so that neither a spark nor a hot surface can ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even when a fault occurs. The ib level, used for Zone 1, tolerates one fault. It is the usual way to make a handheld device that a worker carries continuously through a hazardous area.
The IS-04Z1 is designed on this principle for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4). Intrinsic safety is a design basis, not a certificate: certification is in progress and none has been issued yet.
In Ma'aden. Rounds at ammonia, acid and fertiliser plants, and at fuel and gas handling points, involve inspection and checklists in demanding conditions. A handheld designed for intrinsic safety could be used in those classified spots if its certificate allows. Mine and smelter areas that are not classified may not need an Ex device. That is Ma'aden's decision.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for Ma'aden
Nothing can be bought for Ma'aden today: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch, and SAMS will supply end users through authorised distributors once certificates exist. What a buyer can do now is take the specification, ask for the written certification schedule and arrange a safe-area evaluation, so that the right local channel contacts you at launch.
- 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 intrinsically safe mobile phone for Ma'aden 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.
What does ‘intrinsically safe’ mean for the IS-04Z1?
The circuits are designed to limit energy so a spark or hot surface cannot ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even with one fault (level ib, Zone 1). Certification of that design is in progress.
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
Other guides for Ma'aden, other places in Saudi Arabia, and the pages behind them.
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for Ma'adenSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for Saudi AramcoElsewhere in Saudi Arabia
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SABICElsewhere 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
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 · Ma'aden
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ma'aden?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.