Interviews Thematic Analysis of Wadi Hanifah's First Socio-cultural Evaluation

This dataset provides the first socio-cultural evaluation of the Wadi Hanifah Rehabilitation Project (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. The research hypothesis is that ecological rehabilitation not only restores environmental functions but also reshapes cultural ecosystem services (CES) and local sense of place.

The dataset includes coded interview quotations organized into thematic categories such as physical environment, accessibility, activities, heritage and identity, distinctiveness, and safety. Each entry is tagged with temporal placement (before rehabilitation, after rehabilitation, or mixed) to enable comparative analysis across time.

Findings reveal a strong shift in public perception: Wadi Hanifah was previously described as abandoned, unsafe, and environmentally degraded, whereas after rehabilitation it is seen as clean, accessible, and socially inclusive. Participants highlighted enhanced architectural continuity, recreational opportunities, and heritage value, while also noting tensions between modernization and historical authenticity.

The dataset can be used to examine how rehabilitation projects affect socio-cultural performance, sense of place, and CES, and may serve as a reference for comparative urban landscape studies.